Dubai Municipality has completed the economic feasibility study of the $8.17 billion (AED30b) deep-drainage project, according to its director general. The Dubai Strategic Sewerage Project, announced last year, will cover Deira and Bur Dubai, and will eliminate more than 100 pumps station that currently transfers sewage to treatment plants in Al Warsan and Jabel Ali. In May, it awarded the consultancy contract to US-based Parsons Overseas Limited, which included feasibility studies, preliminary design, tender preparation and support followed by program management of detailed design and construction phases. Hussain Nasser Lootah on Sunday said the project will be implemented in two phases over a period of six years. “The project, expected to be built between 2019 and 2025, and we will be put it to tender next year,” he said. Currently, the preliminary design work is under way. Besides, the municipality will use “micro tunnel technology”, thus avoiding digging of roads. The Bur Dubai tunnel will be 62 kilometres long and have 112 kilometres of main drainage lines, while the Deira tunnel will be 16 kilometres long with 34 kilometres of main drainage lines. Mohamed Ahmed Al Rayes, acting director of Sewerage and Irrigation Department, said the deep-drainage tunnel project is built to meet the future needs of the city, taking into view the population growth expected in the coming years.