Tungabhadra reservoir gate replacement: 18th crest gate installed successfully in 15 days

Vijayanagara: A major milestone has been achieved in the ongoing modernization of the Tungabhadra reservoir, the lifeline of the Kalyana Karnataka region, with the successful installation of the 18th crest gate.

The development marks significant progress in the ambitious project to replace all 33 aging and weakened crest gates of the reservoir, aimed at strengthening safety and improving water management.

The installation work of the 18th crest gate at the Tungabhadra reservoir near Munirabad began on December 24, 2025, and was completed after nearly 15 days of continuous effort. Engineers and technical staff worked round the clock to ensure precision and safety during the complex operation, officials said.

On Thursday, chain links were fixed to the newly installed gate, and trial operations for lifting and lowering the gate were successfully carried out. With this, the gate has been declared fully operational. Prior to this, three old and dilapidated crest gates had already been dismantled and removed as part of the phased replacement process.

The installation of the 18th gate is being seen as a key milestone in the project. Under the government’s plan, all 33 old crest gates of the Tungabhadra reservoir are to be replaced at an estimated cost of ₹52 crore. The contract for the project has been awarded to a reputed Gujarat-based company.

Officials said the replacement work is being carried out in a scientific and systematic manner, with each gate undergoing rigorous technical testing before proceeding to the next stage. At present, installation work on the 20th and 27th crest gates is also progressing simultaneously.

The contracting company has expressed confidence that the replacement of all 33 crest gates will be completed by June. Once the project is fully implemented, the safety of the Tungabhadra reservoir is expected to improve significantly, along with better flood control and more efficient water regulation.

The Tungabhadra reservoir is a crucial source of irrigation, drinking water and industrial supply for several districts of Karnataka, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region.

Given its importance, the state government has taken up the gate replacement as a high-priority infrastructure project. The successful installation of the 18th crest gate is expected to pave the way for faster completion of the remaining works.

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