Balamrai’s historic water reservoir dismantled for NH-44 project

A historic British-era water reservoir at Balamrai has been dismantled to facilitate the Paradise-Suchitra Junction elevated corridor. A new 2,300-kilolitre pump house has been built nearby, while the old water distribution network continues until new transmission infrastructure is commissioned.

Hyderabad: A historic British-era water reservoir located on the premises of Balamrai Pump House – a solid stone monument that quenched the thirst of those residing in Secunderabad Cantonment for generations – has been dismantled.

Serving as a vital lifeline for over a lakh of local citizens and defence families, this architectural landmark has finally been cleared to pave way for the upcoming Paradise–Suchitra Junction elevated corridor.

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The demolition was needed due to the facility’s prime location, which has been designated as the official starting point (take-off zone) for the NH-44 elevated corridor project. It also facilitates providing a signal-free expressway up to Suchitra Junction.

For decades, the SCB water wing utilised this facility as a vital storage and distribution reservoir. The reservoir received potable water supplied by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), quenching the thirst of nearly one lakh consumers across Balamrai, Anna Nagar, Indiramma Nagar, CBN Nagar, and several adjoining slums and residential colonies.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has initiated a new, state-of-the-art pump house with a capacity of 2300 kilolitres adjacent to the recently dismantled Balamrai facility.

SCB Water Wing Superintendent S Raj Kumar told ‘Telangana Today’ that the old pump house, which has served the area for decades, would not be completely abandoned but continues to function as an active standby facility. “Currently, we have fully transitioned to utilising the new pump house to maintain the local water supply,” he said.

The shifting of underground utilities and the laying of new water transmission lines between Paradise Circle and Bowenpally are currently in progress. “Until this new trunk network is fully commissioned, we are actively running the old water distribution network to ensure residents do not face any domestic inconvenience,” said an SCB official.