Delhi approves Rs 17,969 crore plan to overhaul entire sewer network

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has approved a Rs 17,969 crore plan to overhaul the capital’s sewer network by dividing Delhi into eight zones and placing the entire network in each zone under a single private operator.

The 10-year “One Zone, One Operator” model will assign responsibility for repair, maintenance and management of sewer infrastructure to individual operators, reported The Hindustan Times.

Each operator will be responsible for sewer lines, manholes, pumping stations and consumer complaints within its allotted zone.

DJB currently maintains 11,212 km of sewer lines, 668,000 manholes and 145 pumping stations across Delhi.

Officials said the new model is intended to shift the DJB from complaint-based repairs to planned preventive maintenance.

The system will include geo-tagged inspections, real-time monitoring through a central command centre and 100 per cent mechanical and robotic cleaning of sewers.

Payments to operators will be linked to performance.

Delhi water minister Parvesh Verma said the new system was primarily intended to establish clear responsibility for sewer-related problems.

“If there is a problem, the system should know about it, someone should be responsible for fixing it, and the work should be tracked till it is completed. That is the change we want to introduce,” he said.

The model is similar to Delhi’s power distribution system, under which four private providers operate in four zones.

The DJB is also working on a similar approach for the city’s water distribution network.

On Wednesday, the board approved a Rs 6,044.05 crore comprehensive overhaul of water-supply infrastructure in south Delhi.

The project will introduce smart meters, bulk-flow meters and chlorine and pressure sensors to enable real-time monitoring, more accurate metering and water auditing.

The board also approved the invitation of tenders for 13 new sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 328 million gallons a day.

The 13 sewage treatment plants are estimated to cost Rs 7,373 crore and will be funded under the Centre’s National Mission for Clean Ganga.

An Asian Development Bank top-up loan of Rs 3,505 crore was also approved for a further 60 MGD sewage treatment plant, transmission upgrades, SCADA systems and distribution improvements.

The DJB additionally approved the Delhi Water & Sewer (Tariff and Metering) Regulations, 2026, replacing the 2012 regulations.

According to officials, the new framework is intended to simplify water and sewer connections, rationalise charges and provide clearer billing provisions and digital services.

The sewer overhaul is intended to place responsibility for the capital’s extensive sewer infrastructure with designated operators while introducing centralised monitoring and performance-linked payments.