GCC Chief Sets September Deadline for Chennai Stormwater Drain Works

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran reviewed ongoing monsoon preparedness and civic infrastructure projects during a meeting at Ripon Building on Saturday, directing officials to complete all stormwater drain works across Chennai by the end of September ahead of the upcoming northeast monsoon.

As part of monsoon readiness, Sameeran instructed civic officials to ensure high-capacity motor pumps, rainwater collection tanks, and dewatering equipment are fully operational. He also called for relief centres and community kitchens to be prepared in advance, alongside intensifying the desilting of stormwater drains and silt catch pits, canal improvement works, and the pruning of dangerous tree branches.

Following the review meeting, Sameeran conducted field inspections of key stormwater drain construction sites in Semmencherry and Madhavaram, which together account for projects worth Rs 207.76 crore. In Semmencherry, work is underway on a 4,235-metre drain stretching from the Arasan Kazhani Canal to the Buckingham Canal, being constructed at a cost of Rs 184.88 crore with funding from KfW. In Madhavaram, a 1,450-metre integrated stormwater drain is being built along the Madhavaram - Red Hills highway at a cost of Rs 22.88 crore to replace an older drain.

During the meeting, the commissioner reviewed a wide spectrum of city development works, including those in the Perambur assembly constituency. Projects examined included integrated sports complexes, play turfs, training playgrounds for kabaddi, basketball, and cricket, as well as libraries, urban primary health centres, dialysis centres, community halls, markets, footpaths, modern bus shelters, and resting rooms for gig workers.

The commissioner also assessed plans for the upgradation of Chennai schools, gymnasiums, green cover expansion through tree planting, pond development, and housing units being constructed through the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board. Sameeran sought status reports on projects currently under execution, those pending commencement, works at the detailed project report stage, and projects under tender or contract, ordering officials to start pending works without delay.

Civic officials were further instructed to strictly monitor unauthorised constructions and curb the misuse of residential buildings for non-residential purposes. Additionally, Sholinganallur MLA ECR P Saravanan joined Commissioner Sameeran at Neelankarai beach to inaugurate new modern changing rooms and toilets, while also inspecting cleanliness measures along the beachfront.