Godavari Clean-Up: Four New Sewage Plants, Bathing Quality Promised by May 2027

For a pilgrim, the most important question about the Godavari is simple: will the water be clean enough to bathe in? Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) says yes, by May 2027.

NMC Commissioner Manisha Khatri said on record that the river would reach bathing quality by May 2027. The Times of India reported this on 5 September 2026. That is about three months before the first Amrit Snan on 2 August 2027, and a few weeks before the official "Major Mela Period" of 15 June to 30 September 2027 begins, according to the NTKMA plan.

The ₹1,600 crore plan

The work is part of a ₹1,600 crore river rejuvenation project. The idea is to stop sewage from reaching the river, and to treat it before any water goes back in.

Four new sewage treatment plants (STPs) are being built:

• Tapovan: 180 MLD (million litres a day)
• Agartakli: 97 MLD
• Chehedi: 64 MLD
• Panchak: 75 MLD

With these, the city's treatment capacity will rise from 342 MLD to 486 MLD.

How far the work has come

• About 60% of the STP work is done. The plants are due to be completed in March 2027.
• About 400 km of new sewer lines are planned. About 30% of this is done.
• 29 nullahs (open drains) that flow into the river are being intercepted, so their dirty water goes to the plants instead.

The sewer lines are the slower part. With about 30% done, a large share of the network still has to be laid in the coming months.

More water for the Kumbh

A clean river also needs enough water. The Times of India reported on 4 October 2026 that NMC is likely to seek about 7,800 mcft of water reservation for the period from 15 October 2026 to 31 July 2027, up from 6,400 mcft. The proposal is on record from NMC Superintending Engineer Ravindra Dharankar. The district water committee, chaired by Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan, is expected to decide later this month. This is still a proposal and has not been approved.

According to the same report, NMC expects sadhus to start arriving at Tapovan Sadhugram from July 2027.

What this means for pilgrims

The bathing-quality promise is a target, not a result yet. The plants are about 60% built and the sewers about 30%. We will report when NMC or NTKMA shares new progress figures or water test results.

Work at Ramkund itself is also still going on. On 5 October 2026, NTKMA asked NMC to speed up unfinished sewerage and storm-water works there before the Dhwajarohan on 31 October.

New ghats are also being built along the river. NTKMA says Nashik will get 10 new ghats and Trimbakeshwar 2, due by March 2027. See them on our ghats page.

The main bathing days are fixed: 2 August, 31 August, and 11 and 12 September 2027. See the full list on our Kumbh dates page, and plan your stay and travel with our pilgrim guide.