BMC Sets March 2027 Deadline for Ghatkopar Sewage Treatment Plant
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set a March 2027 deadline to complete the construction of the 337 MLD sewage treatment plant in Ghatkopar, which borders the eco-sensitive Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. Following a site inspection on Saturday, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar directed officials to deploy extra manpower and accelerate the project to ensure both the plant and an adjoining pumping station upgrade are finished on schedule.
The project, being developed under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project, will have the capacity to treat 337 million litres of sewage daily (MLD) using Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology. Out of the total treated sewage, 170 MLD will undergo tertiary treatment before being discharged, which is expected to significantly improve the quality of wastewater entering the sea.
In addition to the sewage treatment plant (STP), Bangar reviewed the upgrade of the adjoining Ghatkopar pumping station. Civil and electrical works at the pumping station have achieved 85 percent physical progress. The upgrade involves repairing the building, replacing mechanical equipment, laying rising mains, and installing higher-capacity pumps. BMC officials have been directed to complete the pumping station by December 2026.
Once completed, the new facility will benefit residents of Ghatkopar, Govandi, Mankhurd, and Chembur by improving coastal water quality and marine biodiversity. Currently, the existing Ghatkopar plant only provides primary treatment, consisting of screening and degritting, before discharging sewage into the creek. The new facility will provide full secondary treatment to the 337 MLD of sewage.
Executing the project presents notable engineering challenges. The existing treatment plant must remain operational throughout the construction of the new facility. Additionally, before the new plant can be commissioned, accumulated sludge in the existing treatment ponds must be removed, treated, and scientifically disposed of. The site's proximity to a creek, forest land, and the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary also requires careful execution.
The contract for the project was awarded to JVPR Engineers Ltd in May 2022, and work commenced in July 2022. The project features a four-year construction period followed by 15 years of operation and maintenance. SFC Environmental Technologies Pvt Ltd is serving as the technology provider, while Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd is the consultant for the project.
