Among the four companies that submitted bids to replace all 33 crest gates of the Tungabhadra reservoir, Gujarat-based Hardware Tools and Machinery Project Company secured the contract. The Tungabhadra Board awarded the project to the firm, setting a 15-month deadline for completion. The bidders included Gujarat’s Anar Company, Hardware Tools and Machinery Project Company, and Telangana-based firms Swapna Projects Pvt Ltd and Bekem Infra Projects Private Limited. Following a detailed evaluation of technical bids and documents, the Board finalised Hardware Tools and Machinery Project Company for the job.
Superintendent Engineer Basavaraj L of KNNL, Tungabhadra Project Circle, Munirabad, confirmed that the same company was also awarded the tender for replacing the 19th crest gate, which was washed away on August 10, 2024. In addition, it will handle the replacement of the remaining 32 gates. The entire project is expected to be completed by June 2026.
The 19th gate replacement is estimated at ₹1.6 crore, while the remaining 32 gates had a sanctioned budget of ₹52 crore. The Gujarat firm secured the deal with a competitive e-tender bid of ₹41.4 crore, well below the allocated budget, sources revealed.
A technical assessment by a committee led by former Central Water Commission chairman A.K. Bajaj had reviewed the dam’s condition and made key safety recommendations. Subsequent inspection by National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) president Anil Jain stressed maintaining lower water levels for non-destructive testing. KSNDT Services, based in Hyderabad, conducted extensive testing,ultrasonic and dye penetration,on all gates and submitted findings on March 25. The report highlighted a 40–50% reduction in gate thickness from the original, leading to the decision to replace all gates.
The Tungabhadra Board stated that although full replacement isn’t feasible this year, water levels would be maintained at 12 to 15 feet above the spill level to ensure sufficient supply for single crop farming and drinking needs. As a result, the storage limit has been capped at 80 tmc, below the full capacity of 101 tmc at 1,626 feet.