The Hindu 16.04.2013
As schools shut, work on stormwater drains to begin
Work on stormwater drains along roads in school zones
will begin this summer. The Chennai Corporation has decided to use the
opportunity provided by the reduction in traffic congestion near schools
during the holidays to complete the JNNURM-funded work to meet
deadlines.
The traffic police recently relaxed restrictions on stormwater drain work to facilitate construction even during day time.
Earlier,
they had permitted the work only during a few hours at night. The
Chennai Corporation, however, was unable to start work in many stretches
on account of the traffic congestion in areas near educational
institutions.
The traffic congestion in school zones
such as Harrington Road in Chetpet and Habibullah Road in T. Nagar was
the cause of delay in work for the past few years, said an official.
The
work will commence in all such roads near schools shortly. The work
will be carried out during the day and also at night to complete the
work by the northeast monsoon.
Work on around 60 per
cent of the stretches in the stormwater drain network has been completed
so far. The Corporation council, a few months ago, extended the
deadline for completion of the work, citing reasons such as the monsoon,
sand scarcity, traffic restrictions by police and hindrance caused by
shifting of utilities.
Works on watersheds such as
Virugambakkam, Arumbakkam, North Buckingham Canal, Royapuram and
Velachery have been extended in the recent months.
Extension
of the deadline for many of the other watersheds was granted a few
months earlier. Work in stormwater drains of Captain Cotton Canal
watershed has been completed and the canals will be restored by August.
The
work in Virugambakkam and Arumbakkam watersheds were proposed to be
completed on November 1, 2012. The civic body extended the deadline to
July 1, 2013.
The work in North Buckingham Canal was
expected to be completed on January 7, 2013. The deadline has been
extended to July 6, 2013. Work in Royapuram is expected to be completed
in June 15, 2013.
Deadline for completion of all
stormwater drain work in Velachery was extended to March 25, 2013 by the
Corporation Council a few months ago. Stormwater drains in many school
zones in such areas are likely to take shape shortly.