The Hindu 04.09.2009
Storm water drains to be strengthened
Special Correspondent
| With German assistance; it may provide relief from flooding of arterial roads during monsoon |
— Photo: R. Ashok 
FACILITATED: A culvert being built across the Karur By-Pass Road in Tiruchi to provide a vital link to a storm water drain.
TIRUCHI: The strengthening of the road network and storm water drains in the Thillai Nagar area with assistance from the German Development Bank, Kfw, is expected to provide relief from flooding of the arterial roads during the monsoon.
The Thillai Nagar Main Road, which was widened and re-laid recently, and the Salai Road were provided with storm water drains. These were among a slew of works taken up by the Tiruchi Corporation at a cost of Rs.24.30 crore with financial assistance from Kfw.
Several other cross roads linking Thillai Nagar and Shastri Road were widened and provided with storm water drains on both sides.
The corporation has taken up construction of a culvert at the KT-Theatre traffic intersection across the Karur By-Pass Road.
The structure will provide a vital link to the storm water drain that was built along the Salai Road.
The culvert, corporation officials say, would prevent flooding of the arterial roads in the area including the Salai Road and Shastri Road during the monsoon season.
Officials point out that the overflowing of the Irattai Vaical often resulted in the flooding of the Salai Road and the building of the storm water drain would bring about a permanent solution to the problem.
The existing culvert of the Irattai Vaical, across the Salai Road, is also planned to be developed and strengthened soon. Besides, a stretch of a small channel running across Annamalai Nagar is proposed to be revived. Currently, the channel has been completely silted up.
The construction of the culvert across the By-pass Road, which is currently under way necessitating traffic diversions, is expected to be completed by the end of this month. The culvert will be built in two stages – first on one half of the by-pass road and subsequently on the other half.