UGD work on Mettupalayam Road leads to sewage backflow into street manholes in Coimbatore

Ongoing underground drainage (UGD) pipeline shifting work on Mettupalayam Road has led to backflow from manholes and waterlogging in parts of neighbouring wards in Coimbatore for over a week.

Residents of Wards 44, 45 and 69 said the problem had affected several streets in K.K. Pudur and surrounding areas, with foul-smelling wastewater entering stormwater drains and accumulating at low-lying points on roads.

V. Swathi of Ramasamy Street in K.K. Pudur, Ward 44, said a manhole had been overflowing throughout the day for more than a week. “The foul smell has become a major problem, and the stagnant wastewater is causing hygiene concerns,” she said.

Baby Sudha, councillor of Ward 45, said problems with the UGD system had been reported in the area since the construction of the flyover. “The present work has aggravated the problem. Four streets in the ward are severely affected by the backflow. We have also requested the officials to complete the work at the earliest,” she said.

A senior Corporation official said the UGD pipeline shifting work began beneath the Saibaba Colony flyover near Anna Market recently. A section of the pipeline located close to the flyover pillars had to be shifted to the service roads.

The work is being carried out by the Highways Department. The shifting of the pipeline had disrupted the normal flow in the network, resulting in complaints from neighbouring areas, the official said. “We have instructed the Highways Department to complete the work within a week,” the official said.