Permanent measures under way to tackle monsoon flooding in Chennai: Minister

Ma. Subramanian. File
| Photo Credit: M. Srinath

Flood-prone areas such as Semmancheri, Velachery, Pallikaranai, Madipakkam, Ullagaram, and Puzhuthivakkam have seen improvements with respect to waterlogging, thanks to stormwater drains, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian said on Thursday (March 13, 2025).

At a press meet following the launch of a stormwater drain project in Saidapet Assembly constituency, he said a high-level advisory committee, led by retired official Thiruppugazh, had previously recommended measures to prevent flooding.

Based on the commitee’s recommendations, a 510-km stormwater drain network was completed with ₹2,375 crore from the Asian Development Bank. Additionally, a 151-km network in the Kovalam Basin area is under construction with ₹510 crore from the German Bank, he added.

Tenders have been invited for the construction of new stormwater drains in Chennai, covering 1.47 km at a cost of ₹6.98 crore. The project includes areas such as Govindan Street, Kalaignar Street, Kumaran Street, and Rettikuppam Street, he said. Temporary measures were in place last monsoon, and permanent work is now under way, he said.

Another stormwater drain covering 1.54 km at an estimated cost of ₹5.10 crore near Aranganathan Subway on Govindan Street in Ward 140 of the Saidapet Assembly constituency was also inaugurated. The project would help address waterlogging in K.R. Street, Sam Avenue Street, Ellaiamman Koil Street, and Govindan Street, he said. Channels will also be built to manage surplus water from Narayanapuram lake.

Chennai Corporation councillors, engineers, and officials were present.