New Delhi’s water management authority Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has awarded a 12-year, 75 million euro contract to a consortium led by SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT (74%) and Indian infrastructure company SPML (26%) to improve water distribution services in the Malviya Nagar district.

The new project is scheduled to begin in late December 2012 and will include renovation of 100 km of the current 200 km of pipeline, as well as construction of 26 km of extensions.

As part of the contract SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT will:

- Enable the district residents to have a continuous water supply, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently they only have water for three to eight hours a day

- Improve customer service by establishing a call center, perfecting the billing process, setting up customer agencies to ensure improved proximity and to manage requests and complaints more efficiently

- Increase network performance and increase water losses from current 77% down to 15%

- Replace all water meters and connect 50,000 people to the network during the first two years of the contract to enable them to finally have access to water.

Jean Louis Chaussade, CEO of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, said: "This contract is a very encouraging first step with the prospects for development of public-private partnerships in India, and it reflects the current energy in the market.”

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