Delay in infrastructure projects across railway tracks cause flooding in parts of the city

Owing to a delay in infrastructure projects such as bridges and culverts across railway tracks, residential areas have been flooded in the city. Residents in areas, such as Ganesapuram in north Chennai, have complained about flooding in the area because of an incomplete bridge project in Ganesapuram. The work in Ganesapuram has been delayed for several years.

Ahead of the onset of the Northeast monsoon, residents and councillors raised complaints over the delay in the construction of bridges including Ganesapuram flyover and associated flood mitigation projects such as box culvert across the railway tracks.

Local resident Sharavana Kumar who is a business owner operating at Dr.Ambedkar College Road, Vyasarpadi, said the delay in completion of the Ganesapuram flyover has affected flood preparedness in the north Chennai. “Owing to flooding of the area on Tuesday, residents have to take a circuitous route to reach various parts of the city. We met the Mayor a few months ago and requested officials to expedite the bridge project. We also wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office. We received a reply from the Government of India informing us that the GCC has not submitted any official request seeking clearance or no-objection certificate for the construction of the Ganesapuram flyover across the railway tracks. The Central government has clarified that the proposals must be routed through the State government for initiating a joint inspection and subsequent processing by the Railways,” said Mr. Sharavana Kumar.

GCC Congress councillor Dilli Babu said residents have demanded the GCC and Railways to expedite the project. “The Mayor had announced that the project would be completed in December. Residents request GCC to expedite the work,” he said.

Nammazhwar of Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Associations said the work on bridges and culverts across railway tracks should be expedited to improve flood preparedness. Residents have also demanded the GCC and Railways to expedite work on Korukkupet bridge. Work on culverts across railway tracks in areas such as Korattur has also not been taken up to prevent flooding.

Owing to flooding, Chennai Corporation installed heavy duty pumps to bale out water from Parangusapuram in Kodambakkam zone on Tuesday. After the 2015 floods, GCC implemented alternate alignment for storm water drains instead of culverts across the tracks near Kodambakkam railway station to prevent flooding in the area.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected various flood affected parts of the city and ordered officials to resolve civic issues caused by flooding.