Pune to become home to 500-year-record breaking largest stepwell in the world

Just a day after World Environment Day, Pune will mark a historic milestone as the foundation stone is laid for constructing the world’s largest stepwell. This significant water conservation project, part of India’s first sustainable township, will be the first stepwell built in the country in the last 500 years.

While many visit the stepwells of Gujarat and Rajasthan to experience ancient water conservation techniques and architectural splendor, Pune will soon boast its own—and the largest in the world. Renowned builder Sandeep Sonigra, known for his eco-friendly projects, including India’s first five-star rated green project, will spearhead the construction of the stepwell in EvoGreen City, located in Pune’s Dehu.

EvoGreen City, set to become the country’s first sustainable township, will span approximately 45 acres in Dehu. The township, surrounded by 70 acres of forest and with the Indrayani river flowing alongside, will rely entirely on renewable energy and harvested water, implemented with the expertise of two German universities.

This colossal stepwell, with a volume of 90,000 cubic meters, will be four times larger than the Abhaneri stepwell in Rajasthan, which has a volume of 24,000 cubic meters. By capturing every drop of rainwater, the stepwell will not only meet the water needs of the township’s 15,000 residents but also benefit the entire Dehu village by boosting groundwater levels.

Sandeep Sonigra, the visionary behind India’s first sustainable township, explained, “Since the stepwell will be a slanting stepwell, it will actually be around seven times the size of Abhaneri. Stepwells are an ancestral gift that provided sufficient water even in drought-prone areas of Rajasthan. In cities like Pune, water wastage is a concern, and we aim to preserve it as a precious resource.”

The foundation stone for the first phase of the stepwell’s construction will be laid on Thursday. Constructed entirely from stone, the stepwell will be 10 meters deep in its initial phase, set to be inaugurated on World Environment Day next year. The second phase will extend the stepwell to 20 meters deep, expected to take an additional three years to complete. With most stepwells in Rajasthan being around 900 years old, this new stepwell in Pune will be the first of its kind built in the country since the stepwell in Telangana 500 years ago.

EvoGreen township aims for a carbon-positive footprint throughout its construction and post-construction phases. The project will use eco-friendly materials, and post-construction, the township will rely entirely on renewable energy and water from the stepwell to meet all residents’ needs.

“We have completed projects entirely based on renewable energy before, but this is the first time our project will also be self-sufficient for water. This self-sufficiency will extend beyond our township’s residents, benefiting the village by increasing groundwater levels. This monumental project will also be an architectural marvel, intended to be a lasting legacy,” added Sonigra.