Amritsar, Feb 13: A high-level delegation from the World Bank arrived in Amritsar on Friday to conduct a comprehensive field review of the ongoing Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Scheme (ABWSS). The project, a joint initiative supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is designed to transition the city from groundwater dependency to a canal-based water supply system.
The visiting team, including representatives Rosana Nitti and Srinivasa Rao Podipireddy, toured several critical construction sites, including the 440-million-litre-per-day treatment facility currently under development at Vallah. During the site visits at Saufutti Road, Golbagh, and the Old Sabzi Mandi, the delegation examined the progress of the 45 overhead reservoirs being built to streamline water distribution across the city.
“The team inspected the upcoming water treatment plant site to assess both the pace of construction and the adherence to quality standards,” an official from the Amritsar Municipal Corporation noted.
Following the site inspections, the delegation met with MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill to discuss implementation timelines and potential bottlenecks. Shergill mentioned that the executing agency, Larsen & Toubro, has increased its workforce at various sites to ensure the project remains on track.
“The pace and quality of the work were appreciated by the World Bank representatives, who expressed satisfaction with the current construction standards,” the Commissioner noted during the review meeting.
With 95 km of the 112 km pipeline network already laid, the project is entering its final phases of distribution infrastructure. Once operational, the scheme will draw water from the Upper Bari Doab Canal to provide filtered drinking water to households throughout the municipal limits.
