Chennai: Work on the new 400 million litres per day (MLD) desalination plant at Perur on East Coast Road is almost 60% complete, Metrowater officials said on Thursday. The plant is being built next to the existing Nemmeli facility.
The project was launched in August 2023 and is being built on 65 acres at a cost of ₹6,078.40 crore. Officials said it is expected to start operations by March 2027.
Once completed, the plant will provide clean drinking water to 22.67 lakh people in Chennai city, Tambaram corporation, nearby areas, and 20 village panchayats. This will help improve water supply in the rapidly growing suburbs of the city.
This is the fourth desalination plant being built to increase water supply for Chennai and its surrounding areas.
A senior Metrowater official said construction is currently underway for several important structures, including:
Intake structure and outfall tank
Dissolved air flotation unit
RO feed tank and RO plant
Chemical and administrative buildings
Limestone filter tank and product water tank
Clear water reservoir and sludge thickener
Warehouse, workshop, and GIS station
Once operational, the plant will significantly boost Chennai’s drinking water security and help meet the needs of its growing population.