Chennai: At least 398 roads have been dug up as Greater Chennai Corporation races to finish stormwater drain (SWD) projects before the northeast monsoon.GCC has also identified 230 locations as severely vulnerable to flooding. Many lie in peripheral areas, including Perungudi and Sholinganallur, as well as neighbourhoods such as Tondiarpet, Anna Nagar and Tiruvottiyur — among areas hit hardest during last year’s monsoon.GCC commissioner G S Sameeran said the civic body had begun work on about 19 km of drains in first week of July and expected to complete it by Sept. “Third phase of SWD construction in south Chennai, covering about 38 km, would also be finished before then, he said.In all, the corporation is carrying out 691 SWD packages at a cost of ₹5,072.67 crore, covering 1,126.05 km of drains. But the construction has brought disruption to residents and businesses. Roads have been excavated outside homes and shops, pedestrian access has been restricted and some bus stops have been removed or shifted. Narrowed carriageways add to traffic congestion. “Every year it is the same story,” said Abdul Basha, from Purasawalkam. “Only when the rain begins, do they get reminded of SWD works.”Corporation officials partially attribute the delay to the Model Code of Conduct during elections, as well as problems involving contractors and cancelled tenders after the polls.Civic activist Sathish Galley said the pace of work, rather than poll-related restrictions alone, was responsible for delays. If a contractor does not stick to the deadline, he must be fined,” he said.An official acknowledged that some projects had been sanctioned only after the monsoon season had begun. In the south region, regional deputy commissioner Aftab Rasool said work was being accelerated on about 120 roads. In the central region, regional deputy commissioner H R Koushik identified Power Mills Road, Anna Nagar, Kilpauk and Arcot Road as priority stretches.In the north, work involving about 30 roads is pending, said regional deputy commissioner Sweta Suman. Zone 4, covering Tondiarpet, is being prioritised, including Kadumpadiamman Koil Street, AP Arasu Street and Manali Road.
