Rs 17,969-Crore Sewerage Revamp Approved for Delhi, Six Zones to Get Single Operators

The Delhi government has approved a Rs 17,969-crore “One Zone, One Operator” project aimed at overhauling the city’s sewerage infrastructure and improving maintenance, Water Minister Parvesh Verma said on Wednesday.

At a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) meeting, the government also approved the Delhi Water and Sewer (Tariff and Metering) Regulations 2026, replacing the existing 2012 regulations. Under the new rules, provisions will be introduced for fair billing in cases involving non-functional, locked or inaccessible water meters. The DJB will also simplify procedures for obtaining new water and sewer connections.

Under the One Zone, One Operator model, Delhi will be divided into six zones, with a single operator in each responsible for sewer lines, manholes, pumping stations and complaint resolution. The system will shift from reactive repairs to planned preventive maintenance, supported by geo-tagged inspections and real-time monitoring through a central command centre.

The project also provides for 100 per cent mechanical and robotic sewer cleaning, while operator payments will be linked to performance to ensure faster complaint resolution and fewer sewer overflows. The DJB currently maintains 11,212 km of sewer lines, 6.68 lakh manholes and 145 pumping stations across 68 assembly constituencies.

The Board also approved a Rs 6,044.05-crore South Delhi water supply transformation project, covering 247 sq km, 12 assembly constituencies and 2,44,381 domestic consumers. Smart meters, bulk flow meters and chlorine and pressure sensors will be installed.

The project targets continuous water supply, zero contamination and reducing non-revenue water below 15 per cent. Funding will include 25 per cent each from the Centre's Urban Challenge Fund and Delhi government, with the remaining 50 per cent through loans. The DJB also approved the Rainwater Harvesting Policy 2026, aligned with Delhi's Master Plan 2047, with mandatory compliance for government buildings.

It further approved individual water connections where technically feasible, regardless of building height, and is constructing 13 sewage treatment plants worth Rs 7,373 crore under the National Mission for Clean Ganga to reduce untreated sewage entering the Yamuna.