Aiming to improve water supply in the northern parts of the city, Chennai Metrowater is set to complete laying of a pipeline from Madhavaram GNT Road to Madhavaram Red Hills Road by September.The project was devised as an alternate arrangement to offset shortage of water supply from Minjur desalination plant, which had ceased operations for two years now. While the water agency has initiated efforts to resume partial operations of the plant, it has expedited work to lay a nearly 3.3-km long pipeline and interconnect with the existing infrastructure laid to the Madhavaram booster station.Nearly 85% of the ₹16.45-crore project has been completed so far. The new pipeline is being laid to divert a portion of water from the central transmission main pipeline, which carries water from Puzhal water treatment plant, and connect to the Madhavaram booster station from where residents of three zones –Manali, Madhavaram, and Tiruvottiyur- would be supplied with drinking water.This was one of the announcements made in the 2024-25 State budget for Municipal Administration and Water Supply department.Officials of the Metrowater said nearly 1.75 lakh residents in three north Chennai zones would be supplied with an additional 23 million litres of water per day (mld) once the laying of the ductile iron pipeline, which is 700 mm in diameter, is completed.The water agency is also using trenchless technology to lay pipeline to cross a stretch of GNT Road by avoiding traffic congestion. Residents are now being supplied with another network of pipelines from Puzhal treatment plant as a temporary measure.Meanwhile, residents of Madhavaram said many areas are awaiting regular water supply. J. Ravi of Kilburn Nagar said residents are waiting for piped water supply as the project to provide water supply network has not been completed.D. Neelakannan, president, Federation of Madhavaram Residents Welfare Associations, said areas such as Lakshmi Nagar and VGP Nagar have been awaiting water connections for many years. Localities like Mohan Nagar, Shastri Nagar, and Thirumalai Nagar, provided with piped network also lacked regular water supply as damaged pipelines were not restored. Residents said the existing piped water network in residential areas needs to be strengthened. Published - August 15, 2026 05:30 am IST