Pune residents are set to experience a full-day water shutdown on Thursday, November 20, as civic authorities undertake crucial infrastructure upgrades. The city’s Water Supply Department will connect a newly laid 3,000 mm main pipeline from Khadakwasla Dam to the Parvati Water Treatment Plant and install advanced flow meters, aiming to enhance distribution efficiency and long-term service reliability. Supply is expected to resume on Friday, though low pressure may persist in certain areas.
Officials explained that the shutdown is necessary to safely link two 1,400 mm pipelines to the new main line. The Bhama–Askhed Dam supply to the Nagar Road belt will continue uninterrupted, ensuring minimal impact on that region. “This upgrade will significantly improve water flow management and reduce future supply disruptions,” an official said, highlighting the long-term benefits for Pune’s rapidly expanding urban population. Key zones affected include Parvati MLR, HLR, and LLR tank areas, as well as Chikhali, Warje, Chandni Chowk, Gandhi Bhavan, Pancard Club, and Holkar Water Works tanks. Booster stations in newly merged villages and major pumping stations such as Rajiv Gandhi and Vadgaon will also experience a temporary halt in operations.
The project, part of Pune’s ongoing urban water infrastructure modernisation, addresses growing challenges from population growth, urban expansion, and aging pipelines. Engineers have completed the detailed alignment surveys and connected multiple sections of the new pipeline, a step considered critical to sustaining future demand while maintaining pressure stability across the network. Residents have been urged to store adequate water in advance and manage consumption prudently during the outage. “We are coordinating with local authorities to ensure that essential services such as hospitals and municipal facilities receive emergency supply where possible,” an official added, reflecting the city’s emphasis on equitable access during maintenance interventions.
Urban planning experts note that such upgrades are essential in creating resilient water systems, particularly in cities facing high urban density and fluctuating monsoon patterns. “Infrastructure projects like this are investments in sustainable water delivery and climate-resilient urban planning,” an industry expert said, linking short-term inconvenience with long-term civic benefits. The Water Supply Department expects the upgraded system to streamline operations, reduce leakage, and improve monitoring of flow across key pipelines. While Thursday’s shutdown is temporary, it represents a broader shift towards modernised, sustainable, and inclusive water management in Pune, aligning with the city’s vision of zero-carbon and resilient urban infrastructure.
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