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.
