Siliguri Municipal Corporation awards LOI to Chennai-based firm for first phase of drinking water project
Project worth Rs 202 crore to augment water supply in Siliguri
Following permission from the state-level technical committee of AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation), the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has given a letter of intent (LOI) to a Chennai-based business for the first phase of a massive drinking water project.
For the execution of the water project, which is being sponsored by the Center under the AMRUT 2.0 plan, authorisation was provided on September 1.
"Today, we sent a LOI to Chennai-based Eco Protection Engineers Private Limited for the execution of the project's first phase. After receiving our letter, the company will formally accept the work order by signing an agreement with us within 10 business days. Around Rs 202 crore would be invested in the first phase, the mayor said on Monday.
The drinking water project would cost a total of Rs 511 crore.
The current water purification system at Fulbari in Siliguri cannot handle the demand. Only 40 to 45 MLD (million litres per day) of the daily drinking water demand—roughly 75 MLD—is met by the facility.
A sizable percentage of the city's population was forced to purchase drinking water as a consequence. The issue becomes more worse throughout the summer.
SMC sources claim that the first phase will include the building of five bridges, an intake well, and other civil and electro-mechanical work.
"The first phase is expected to be completed in 18 months. The business will do a three-month trial run when the construction is finished. For a period of 60 months, it will be in charge of managing the project's operations and upkeep. The initiative is receiving technical help from the state department of urban development and municipal affairs, according to the mayor.
The project's initial tender went out in January 2023. The project, however, was a failure since not a single business filed a proposal.
On June 23, a second tender was made public. On July 27, when the tender's doors were opened, it was discovered that three firms had signed up to participate. The financial bid was launched on August 9 and the topic was sent to the AMRUT technical committee and state-level project implementation committee. According to an SMC official, they approved the first phase's implementation on September 1.
