Cleaner, safer, round-the-clock water for Mumbaikars: Rs 3,145 crore Panjrapur plant to cut energy use, boost supply

MUMBAI: Residents can look forward to safer drinking water, improved taste, fewer water-borne illnesses, and a step closer to 24x7 supply once the new-generation water treatment plants at Bhandup and Panjrapur become operational by 2029–30.

Equipped with advanced, compact, and energy-efficient technologies, the facilities are expected to sharply reduce contaminants and pathogens compared with ageing plants. They will also lower chemical and power consumption and strengthen supply reliability, meeting nearly 65% of the city’s drinking water needs.


In a major development, Welspun Enterprises Ltd (WEL) has been awarded a Rs 3,145 crore contract by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to design, build, and operate a 910 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant (WTP) at Panjrapur. The project includes a 15-year operations and maintenance (O&M) component worth around Rs 1,156 crore.

The Panjrapur plant will complement the 2,000 MLD Bhandup WTP, currently under construction, which will replace an ageing facility. Together, the two plants—executed by Welspun with global water management firm Veolia as the technology provider and O&M partner—will create a combined capacity of 2,910 MLD, forming the backbone of Mumbai’s future water security.

Advanced technology, smaller footprint
Unlike conventional plants that rely on large sedimentation tanks and energy-intensive systems, the new facilities will use high-rate, compact technologies such as Actiflo for clarification, TGV-DMF for advanced filtration, and Actidyn for sludge thickening.

Actiflo uses microsand ballast to settle impurities up to 50 times faster than traditional processes, allowing world-class purification in a much smaller footprint—an important advantage in land-scarce Mumbai. The technology can reduce chemical use by up to 50% and cut energy consumption by at least 30% compared with older plants. Sludge treatment using lamella-based systems eliminates the need for massive gravity tanks, conserving urban land and improving operational efficiency.

Digital tools, including AI-enabled monitoring, digital twins for real-time simulation, and camera-based surveillance, will support predictive maintenance and stable output even during monsoon-related spikes in turbidity.

Direct benefits for consumers
Civic officials said the advanced treatment processes will significantly reduce contaminants and pathogens compared with older systems, resulting in safer, more consistent drinking water.

“For households, this means improved taste, lower risk of water-borne diseases, and greater confidence in the safety of tap water,” a senior BMC official said. “The enhanced reliability of production is also a key step towards continuous, pressurised supply.”

By 2030, the two plants are expected to meet 65% of Mumbai’s potable water demand, enhancing supply resilience amid rapid urbanisation and climate variability. Veolia will oversee the production and treatment of drinking water, while distribution management and the reduction of non-revenue water (NRW) losses will remain under the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

Lower costs, long-term stability
Officials said the improved energy and chemical efficiency of the new plants could lower the cost of producing treated water over time, giving the municipality fiscal flexibility to either moderate tariffs or reinvest savings into strengthening pipelines, rainwater harvesting, and reuse infrastructure.

Guillaume Dourdin, CEO and Country Director, India, Veolia, said: “For more than 25 years, Veolia has partnered in India’s urban transformation, proving that 24x7 water supply is not a distant dream but a fundamental standard for cities facing water stress. We bring this expertise to Mumbai’s Bhandup (2,000 MLD) and Panjrapur (910 MLD) plants, securing 65% of the city’s drinking water needs by 2030.”

He added that optimised operations at the new facilities would significantly improve water quality while ensuring efficient plant performance over decades under a 15-year O&M contract.

Part of a larger water push
The Panjrapur project is scheduled for completion within 48 months, after which it will be operated and maintained for 15 years. The Bhandup plant is expected to be operational by 2029, followed by Panjrapur by 2030.

Welspun Chairman BK Goenka said that upon completion of both projects, the company would be treating nearly 65% of Mumbai’s freshwater requirements. Managing Director Sandeep Garg added that the focus would be on delivering a world-class facility with the smallest possible footprint in a land-scarce city.

With an order book of over Rs 16,000 crore and multiple water and wastewater projects underway—including the 418 MLD Dharavi Wastewater Treatment Facility—Welspun’s expanding portfolio aligns with Mumbai’s broader push for sustainability, water reuse, and circular water management.

For residents, the most tangible outcome will be simple: cleaner, safer, and more reliable water flowing from taps, bringing 24x7 supply closer to reality.