The Polavaram Irrigation Project in Andhra Pradesh is advancing steadily, with the state government expediting work to meet a target completion date by the end of 2026. A significant milestone has been achieved with the completion of the world's largest spillway, designed to manage a flood discharge of 5 million cusecs, along with the installation of 48 hydraulic radial gates.
Additionally, the upper and lower cofferdams, comprising 11.078 million cubic metres, and the Gap-3 concrete dam, with 0.81 lakh cubic metres, have been fully completed.
Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) has played a vital role in driving progress through its engineering expertise and timely execution. Construction on the Earth Cum Rock Fill (ECRF) dams continues at a rapid pace, with diaphragm walls and vibro compaction finalised, while embankment filling remains underway.
Upon completion, the project will irrigate 720,000 new acres and stabilise 2.35 million acres, significantly enhancing agricultural productivity. It will also generate 960 MW of hydropower utilising Asia's largest Kaplan turbines, divert 80 TMC of surplus water to the Krishna basin, and provide 23.44 TMC of drinking water to Visakhapatnam.
A Gangadhar, General Manager at MEIL, stated: "Key structures like the spillway and cofferdams are complete, and with major groundwork in place, the team is confident of achieving upcoming milestones on schedule."
The project features unique engineering elements including a right-bank spillway, left-bank powerhouse, a 6.6 km river diversion system, and India's first fish ladder. It is expected to transform irrigation, flood management, and power generation in Andhra Pradesh.
The Polavaram Irrigation Project, which includes the Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada) link project, is implemented in Andhra Pradesh and receives financial support from the Government of India.