MUMBAI: Why carry a bottle when Ayodhya now pours clean, cold water on tap? In a move that’s part hydration, part transformation, Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, in partnership with SM Sehgal Foundation and Ayodhya Nagar Nigam, has turned up the public health dial with the installation of community water ATMs across key areas of the city. The initiative puts reliable, RO-purified drinking water at the fingertips of residents and pilgrims alike no app required.

Each ATM is connected to the Nagar Nigam’s municipal supply and backed by overhead storage tanks. The water is filtered through a Reverse Osmosis system, stored in stainless steel chilled tanks, and dispensed via hygienic external taps. The result? Round-the-clock, walk-up access to clean, cool water in one of India’s most spiritual and frequently visited cities.

The Coca-Cola India Foundation director Rajiv Gupta said, "Access to drinking water is a fundamental pillar of public health and community well-being. Our partnership with Ayodhya Nagar Nigam and the SM Sehgal Foundation is a strategic initiative that demonstrates our commitment to help improving water accessibility in the region through better infrastructure and local collaboration."

S M Sehgal Foundation trustee and CEO Anjali Makhija said, "Water is vital, and through our collaboration with Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, we help create solutions for communities. The installation of water ATMs in Ayodhya marks a significant step towards ensuring access to hydration, especially in a city that welcomes millions of pilgrims and visitors each year."

Ayodhya Nagar Nigam Municipal commissioner Santosh Sharma said, "This initiative underscores the positive role of public-private partnerships in enhancing urban infrastructure. Together with Coca-Cola India Foundation, we’re addressing the need for reliable drinking water across key areas in Ayodhya, benefiting both residents and visitors. By strengthening the city’s water access, this effort is a crucial part of our broader commitment to improving civic amenities and ensuring a sustainable, community-centered development."

The effort is part of a broader Coca-Cola India Foundation strategy that’s already impacted over one million lives. Through Project Jaldhara, the Foundation in collaboration with SM Sehgal Foundation has led water conservation efforts across Kolar (Karnataka), Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), and Aurangabad (Maharashtra). Their interventions range from check dam construction and tank desilting to decentralised water systems, designed to fight water stress from the grassroots up.

Ayodhya now becomes the next ripple in that wave. As India heats up and demand for public hydration rises, these ATMs offer more than a moment of relief, they’re a blueprint for civic innovation.

Because in today’s world, a sip well-served is a civic duty well done.