Being implemented at a total cost of Rs160 crore under assistance from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) fund, the drainage plan is scheduled to be completed in the next 24 months, benefiting 25,000 households. The Centre is providing a grant of Rs 64 crore under JNNURM, which is 40 per cent of the total cost and the State government is extending interest-free loan of Rs 16 crore, which constitutes 10 per cent of the cost.

The rest is to be equally shared by Tambaram Municipality (Rs 40 crore) and the Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund (Rs 40 crore).

N S Prema, Commissioner, Tambaram Municipality, said the project would be executed in three phases. Under the first phase covering East Tambaram, 85.47 km long sewer lines will be laid with six pumping and lift stations. In the next phase, work would be completed in West Tambaram that would have sewer pipes for 90.63 km besides six pumping and lift stations. In the final phase, treatment plants would be set up. For West Tambaram, the plant would come up on Darkas Road on a 4.5 acre plot and near Tiruvancheri lake for East Tambaram on a 15 acre site.

Bhoomi pooja and foundation stone laying function was held to mark the start of work for phase one. Senior government officials and local residents participated.