Municipal Corporation Deploys World-Class Swiss-German Machinery to Clear Long-Choked Sewer Line in Old Ludhiana

Ludhiana, August 26, 2026: In a major step towards resolving the long-standing waterlogging problem in Dhokka Mohalla and other low-lying areas adjoining Buddha Dariya, the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana has undertaken intensive desilting of a severely choked 78-inch internal diameter sewer line near Gaughat Gurdwara in the old city, deploying specialised Swiss-German machinery, robotic inspection cameras and super-suction technology.
Mayor Inderjit Kaur inspected the ongoing work on Wednesday and reviewed the progress of the specialised operation being undertaken to restore the capacity of the trunk sewer. 
On this, Mayor Inderjit Kaur said, “Residents of Dhokka Mohalla and nearby areas have been facing waterlogging for a long time because this important sewer line remained choked. We are now undertaking its cleaning with specialised machinery and technical expertise so that sewage flow can be restored and the problem can be addressed at its source.”
She said that previous governments had failed to resolve the issue despite residents having faced the consequences for years. “The people of these areas have suffered for a long time. We are committed to resolving their problems on the ground rather than allowing them to remain pending year after year,” she added.
The Mayor said that locating the manholes required to access the old sewer line itself had posed a major challenge for the civic body. “During the exercise, one of the crucial manholes was located inside Gaughat Gurdwara, following which the Municipal Corporation initiated the necessary arrangements to access the line and undertake the specialised cleaning operation,” she added.
She said that the cleaning of the sewer would improve the carrying capacity and flow of the network and help reduce waterlogging in adjoining low-lying areas, particularly those located near Buddha Dariya. “Working under the guidance of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, we are focused on sustainable development and on resolving civic problems through practical interventions. No stone is being left unturned to facilitate residents at the ground level and provide them relief from problems that have persisted for years,” Mayor Inderjit Kaur said.
The Mayor also thanked National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains for supporting the initiative and said the project would provide much-awaited relief to residents of Dhokka Mohalla and other vulnerable low-lying areas.
The intervention is aimed at improving sewage flow from the Dhokka Mohalla area and enabling its diversion towards the Bhattian Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), thereby reducing the load currently being handled by the Jamalpur system.
The scale of the intervention has required specialised equipment and technical expertise. Robotic cameras are being used to inspect the sewer line and assess the desilting operation from within the network, while high-capacity super-suction machinery is being deployed to remove accumulated silt and obstructions. Experts from Switzerland have also visited the site to assist with the specialised cleaning operation.
The blocked sewer line has been a major bottleneck in the sewage network serving the old city and surrounding areas. According to the technical note prepared for the proposed diversion, the blockage on the Gaushala-Bhattian sewer connection has reduced the inflow to Bhattian STP, which has a treatment capacity of 161 MLD but is presently receiving around 70 MLD. As a consequence, around 80 MLD of sewage generated within the Gaushala area network is being diverted towards the Jamalpur system through the Shingar Cinema and Transport Nagar disposals, with additional arrangements involving the alternate IPS Gaushala and a temporary disposal arrangement.
The technical note also proposes an interim diversion mechanism near the Gurudwara-area sewer alignment to redirect approximately 20–30 MLD of sewage currently flowing towards Jamalpur STP to Bhattian STP. The proposed arrangement involves a T-shaped bifurcation structure, a diversion channel connecting it to the Bhattian-bound network and flow-control mechanisms to regulate the diverted quantity.
Once the main sewer line is fully desilted and restored, the Municipal Corporation will be in a stronger position to route sewage from Dhokka Mohalla and nearby areas towards Bhattian STP. This is expected to ease pressure on the Jamalpur system and improve the overall balance of sewage flows across the city’s treatment network.
The technical assessment indicates that, in conjunction with clearance of the main Gaushala-Bhattian trunk-line blockage, the diversion can increase Bhattian STP utilisation towards 80 per cent, reduce the load on Jamalpur STP and associated infrastructure by 20–30 MLD, and help mitigate overflow risks at the Shingar Cinema and Transport Nagar disposals.
The desilting work is expected to be completed over the coming one to two months, after which the restored sewer line will facilitate better sewage management in the area. In parallel, the technical proposal envisages an interim diversion structure with an anticipated turnaround time of 11 days, comprising preparation of the detailed estimate within 24 hours, tendering and award within seven days, and construction within three days.
The technical note recommends taking up the interim diversion on priority as a near-term measure to rebalance sewage flows and ease the load on the Jamalpur system pending full restoration of the Gaushala-Bhattian trunk sewer line. It also recommends regulated operation of the Shingar Cinema and Transport Nagar disposals during the interim period to mitigate overflow risks.
Chairman PUNGRAIN (Punjab State Grains Procurement Corporation Limited) Dr Tejpal Singh Gill, along with Municipal Corporation officials including SE Ekjot Singh, Nodal Officer (O&M cell) Kamal Ram and Executive Engineer (PWSSB) Balraj Singh, was also present during the Mayor’s inspection.