CM Yogi to Inaugurate ₹495-Crore Godhoiya Nala Project in Gorakhpur
In a major civic breakthrough that promises to permanently resolve chronic waterlogging and drainage distress in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Gorakhpur on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to inaugurate the completed first phase of the ambitious Godhoiya Nala (drainage) revitalization project. During the high-profile visit, the Chief Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the project’s second phase and is slated to address a massive public gathering in the city. The comprehensive ecological and civil engineering initiative, executed at a sanctioned cost of ₹495.24 crore for its inaugural leg, revives one of Gorakhpur’s oldest natural drainage channels that had been pushed to the brink of extinction due to decades of administrative apathy, heavy siltation, and rampant urban encroachments. With regional municipal teams operating on war footing to spruce up connecting transit roads and finalize event venues, district authorities are also closely monitoring logistics in light of heavy rain and wind advisories issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding the approaching Cyclone Arnab.
Revamping an Ancient Drainage Lifeline: Engineering Details of the ₹495-Crore Phase 1 Network
Executed under the supervision of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Urban), the completed Phase 1 delivers a massive infrastructural overhaul to 17 municipal wards spanning from the rear periphery of the Baba Raghavdas (BRD) Medical College through Harsevakpur No. 1, Harsevakpur No. 2, and the Jail Bypass road to the main thoroughfare of Bichhiya Colony. According to Ratansen Singh, Superintending Engineer of UP Jal Nigam (Urban), the project features a 7.75-kilometer-long newly paved reinforced cement concrete (RCC) stormwater canal, 1.50 kilometers of channelized unpaved section, 14 strategic bridges and road culverts, and a comprehensive 17.50-kilometer intercepting underground sewer network. To ensure that untreated domestic and municipal wastewater does not pollute local water ecosystems, the system integrates a modern 61 MLD (million liters per day) main pumping station along with a dedicated 38 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), guaranteeing rigorous purification before discharge. Having previously inspected construction milestones on multiple occasions, the Chief Minister is expected to conduct an on-site technical inspection to review operational readiness ahead of formal commissioning.
₹93.72-Crore Phase 2 Expansion: RCC Paving, STP Access Roads, and Weather Contingencies
Building on the foundation of the initial rollout, the upcoming Phase 2 involves an additional capital expenditure of ₹93.72 crore to address the remaining engineering requirements of the catchment basin. Under this subsequent phase, the 1.5-kilometer unpaved stretch will be fully converted into a paved RCC conduit, while an all-weather arterial access road will be laid to connect maintenance vehicles and municipal staff directly to the 38 MLD sewage treatment terminal situated at the tail end of the Godhoiya channel near the Bichhiya Railway Colony. The multi-tiered project permanently addresses seasonal flooding for tens of thousands of residents while reclaiming urban hygiene across residential pockets that historically suffered from severe vector-borne health hazards. While administrative preparations for the public address and foundation ceremony are in the final stages, civic teams remain on high alert with standby contingencies to ensure event operations proceed seamlessly despite the impending cyclonic storm.
