In order to improve the water supply and distribution system to the city, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will be constructing an alternate water supply line soon. This would act as one of the main water supply line for the city, replacing a 60-inch water supply line from Palta to Tallah. Rs 305 crore has already been sanctioned in this regard by the Centre. This incidentally will be for the first time that an alternate to one of the main water supply line is being constructed. The existing water supply line along the Barrackpore Trunk Road is over a 100-years-old and has several leaks. "We are constructing an alternate water supply line underneath the Barrackpore Trunk Road while keeping the existing pipelines intact. The new pipeline will act as the trunk pipe (main pipe),' mayor, Mr Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya said. Plans for laying the new pipeline has been sanctioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Under the JNNURM, the Centre provides 35 per cent of the funds, 50 per cent will be contributed by the civic body and another 15 per cent by the state government. Work on the project will start before the monsoons and is expected to be completed within 30 months. According to initials plans, pipes having a diameter of 64 inches will be laid underneath a 24 kilometre stretch of the Barrackpore Trunk Road. Even the present water wastage of 35 per cent will be substantially reduced once the new supply line comes up. The civic body will contribute another Rs 36 crore for setting up a new water treatment plant at the Garden Reach Waterworks. An amount of Rs 5 crore has already been made by the civic body. An additional amount of 15 million gallons of water will be supplied by the project which is expected to cater to residents in Behala.