Nagpur 24×7 is one of the magnificent project of Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited (VIL). Here are few things about the project: The City – Nagpur the 3rd major city & winter capital of Maharashtra state, Nagpur is India’s loath largest city with a populace of over 2.5 million people. It became the first city of its size in the nation to outsource its water supply to a private operator under the PPP model for 25 years. The one big objective was to provide l00% safe drinking water 24×7 to l00% of the population including the slum-dwellers within 5 years. The second major objective was to reduce Non Revenue Water below 25% in 10 years time. The contract was awarded to Orange City Water Limited — a 50:50 joint venture SPV company incorporated with equal equity stake of Vishvaraj Environment Pvt. Ltd. and Veolia Water of France. The project covers management of the entire water cycle from production, treatment (657 MLD), transport (2100 Kms of network), storage and delivery to the last point of usage i.e. the customers tap. This involves replacement of more than 3,00,00 house service connections, rehabilitation of treatment facilities, service reservoirs and pipeline. Social Inclusiveness was that every household including slums to get individual continuous piped water supply connection.
Mr. Arun Lakhani a man with a grand vision and a forward thinker makes India proud as a nation. India has vast requirement of Infrastructure building and improvement. Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd, which is heading Orange City Waters – Nagpur’s core Water Supply Manager, has managed to bring some moments of proud to the city. In the recently held World Water Leadership Congress and Awards in Mumbai, the company headed by Arun Lakhani has managed to make the cut with two prestigious awards. While Arun Lakhani, Chairman and Managing Director, Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd has been individually honoured with World Water Leadership Awards for his Outstanding Contribution towards Water, his company Vishvaraj Infrastructure bagged the award for Best Water Reuse Project.
The PPP route was established in last decade also saw some lean time. With New government initiative the PPP has again come with better risk sharing matrix between private and public. VIL India has been a proponent of PPP model, and has established track record in Road and highways sector. With Urban Infrastructure foray in Water, it is today the only Indian Utility with ongoing projects in Water distribution as well as Waste water treatment and Reuse.
Mr. Arun Lakhani lives by what he says “This award is the recognition of my team’s hard work which put in their efforts. It’s never a one person; it’s a team work – Satyajeet, Suresh and all of them. My congratulations to them.” His humility and respecting people has got him a far way.
Mr. Arun Lakhani goes on to say people are important to every project. And if we take their views and opinions, it benefits only only the citizens of the country but also India as a nation.