Visakhapatnam: The sewerage network in the area-based development ( ABD ) part of the city (ward numbers 17, 18, 19 and 20) is set to undergo a major transformation under the Smart City mission. The state government on Friday directed Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL) to issue a letter of acceptance to the successful bidder, who quoted Rs 56.6 crore for the project.A detailed study carried out earlier by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), identified some 8.8 km of missing links of sewerage network within the ABD area. This is apart from the 7.1 km missing link in Jalaripeta. About 70% households in the area are connected to the underground drainage network system. The remaining are attached to the existing storm water network, which is discharged into the sea. The project aims to address all these gaps.Once the project is completed, a total of 3,100 households in the area, which were out of UGD network, will be linked to the sewer network. The project will also give a facelift to several pumping stations, and sewerage treatment plants in the area, as well as in the vicinity.GVMC commissioner and GVSCCL managing director, M Hari Narayanan, informed that all the households of the ABD will be provided with a sewerage connection under the project. “The connected STPs will be retrofitted to ensure the quality of discharges is as per Central Pollution Control Board norms,” said Hari Narayanan.The two existing sewerage treatment plants in the ABD area — 25 million litres per day (MLD) STP near Appughar and 38 MLD STP near Lakshmi Talkies — will be technologically upgraded to make sure the discharges meet the CPCB standards. These two plants will also be completely automated.

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