Patna to Get ₹1,500-Cr Ganga Water Supply Network with 1,200 km of Pipelines
Patna is set to receive a major expansion of its drinking-water infrastructure through a proposed ₹1,500-crore Ganga water supply project. The system will use an approximately 1,200-km pipeline network to deliver treated Ganga water to households across the city.
The project will be implemented by the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (BUIDCo) under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 programme. It will include two water treatment plants, three pumping stations and a network of reservoirs designed to meet Patna’s projected drinking-water demand through 2044.
The proposed treatment plants will be located near Kangan Ghat and Danapur Diara. Both facilities will treat water drawn from the Ganga before it is distributed through the citywide network.
The plan includes 57 new reservoirs, commonly referred to as jalminars, and the integration of 11 existing reservoirs. Treated water is expected to be supplied to around 45 locations across Patna, expanding the reach of the city’s drinking-water system.
The proposed network has been designed to provide 155.25 litres of water per person per day. Officials estimate that Patna’s daily water requirement could rise to approximately 406.259 million litres per day by 2029 and 478.899 MLD by 2044. The project is intended to prepare the city for this anticipated growth in demand.
Land acquisition remains an important stage before construction can begin. Officials have identified locations for treatment facilities and reservoirs, but land availability is currently confirmed at only some of the proposed sites. Progress on acquisition and approvals will influence the project’s implementation schedule.
The tender is expected to be floated next month, with completion targeted for 2029. Once operational, the system could improve the availability of treated drinking water in Patna and reduce pressure on existing supply infrastructure.
However, the success of the project will depend not only on the construction of treatment plants, reservoirs and pipelines, but also on water quality monitoring, reliable electricity for pumping, effective operation and maintenance, and equitable distribution across all connected areas.