Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, along with Visakhapatnam East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a major drinking water infrastructure project aimed at improving water supply in Arilova Ward No. 12.

The project, estimated to cost ₹4 crore, is intended to address the long-pending drinking water problems in the Chinna Gadili and Deendayalapuram areas.

Under the project, water from the Mudasarlova Reservoir will be pumped to a newly proposed 700 KL overhead reservoir through a pump house facility. From there, water will be supplied to households through a gravity-based distribution system designed to suit the hillock terrain in the area.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sribharat said the project would improve drinking water supply and pressure for nearly 21,000 residents across around 5,200 households in Deendayalapuram, Chinna Gadili, Salipeta, Netaji Colony, areas surrounding the Naval Hospital, Siddhartha B.C. Colony and other localities in Arilova.

He said ₹4 crore was being spent on the construction of the reservoir and pump house, while the total project cost, including pipeline works, was expected to touch nearly ₹5 crore. Describing it as a long-term solution to the drinking water problems faced by residents for several years, he said the project would later be integrated with the proposed 24/7 continuous drinking water supply scheme planned under the Urban Challenge Fund to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the future.

Mr. Ramakrishna Babu said the long-standing drinking water problems in the hill-side areas of the constituency would soon be resolved. He expressed confidence that the works would be completed within three months and assured that drinking water supply would be provided to every household.