Bhadbhut Barrage Project to Store Narmada Freshwater by July 2027

Bharuch : There is some good news for the residents of Bharuch and Ankleshwar in south Gujarat. The much anticipated Bhadbhut Barrage Project is set to be completed in June-2027 with fresh water from Narmada river will be stored in the reservoir from July-2027. 

Bhadbhut Barrage Project on the Narmada river is being undertaken to save the saline land of the Bharuch-Ankleshwar area by storing the freshwater of Lokmata Narmada, which is flowing into the sea in an unusable manner, by creating a freshwater lake. The scheme also aims to prevent frequent erosion and damage due to floods in Bharuch and Ankleshwar areas, store salt water for drinking and industrial use in this area, and prevent the inflow of sea water to Shuklatirth, 70 kilometers upstream from the mouth of the sea, thereby eliminating the problem of salinity.

The Chief Minister has initiated site visits for major projects to oversee their progress, ensure effective execution of developmental initiatives across the state, and provide necessary guidance. As part of this initiative, he visited Bharuch on the first day following the conclusion of the legislative budget session to review the progress of the Bhadbhut Barrage project.

The Chief Minister was informed in a review meeting that so far 53 percent of physical progress has been made in this project. 99 percent of the work of the first phase has been completed under the plan to carry out the construction of the barrage in phases to ensure smooth passage of the flood flow of the Narmada river. The plan is to complete the work of the remaining works of the barrage in two phases. Accordingly, the first phase of the work is planned to be completed in July-2026 and the second phase of the work, including the flood protection embankment, is planned to be completed in June-2027. With the completion of this work of the barrage, fresh water will be stored in the reservoir from July-2027, resulting in an annual revenue of approximately Rs. 900 crore from the collection of industrial and drinking water rates.

Additionally, the project seeks to mitigate frequent flooding and erosion in Bharuch and Ankleshwar, secure fresh water for drinking and industrial use, and prevent seawater intrusion up to 70 kilometers upstream at Shuklatirth, effectively addressing salinity concerns.

The ongoing work in the first phase includes the construction of the cofferdam, girder casting, cement concrete block casting, and hydro-mechanical work such as gate installation and lifting mechanisms. Furthermore, substantial progress has been made on the fish pass and the fishermen navigation channel, while the approach road construction is planned for completion by May 2025. The flood protection embankment work on the available land is scheduled for completion by December 2025. 

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel provided necessary guidance and instructions during the review meeting to ensure that quality is maintained in all aspects of the work and that the project is completed within the stipulated time frame.