PWD Minister Reviews Rs 6,000-Crore Monsoon Preparedness Works Across Chennai

PRESS RELEASE Review meeting on Northeast Monsoon preparedness works in Chennai and surrounding areas held today under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Adhav Arjuna A review meeting on Northeast Monsoon preparedness works being undertaken by the Greater Chennai Corporation, Water Resources Department, Highways Department, Chennai Metro Rail Limited, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, and the Tambaram and Avadi Corporations in Chennai and surrounding areas was held today (16.07.2026) at the Secretariat conference hall, chaired by Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Adhav Arjuna, in the presence of Chief Secretary Dr. M. Vaikumar, IAS. At the meeting, the Hon'ble Minister stated the following: Greater Chennai Corporation In Chennai and surrounding areas, the Water Resources Department maintains 3 rivers spanning 59.59 km and 12 canals spanning 85.56 km; the Greater Chennai Corporation maintains 44 canals spanning 81.81 km and 11,770 stormwater drains spanning 3,040 km; and the Highways Department maintains 42 stormwater drains spanning 237 km. Integrated stormwater drain works worth ₹3,059 crore are underway in the Kosasthalaiyar basin areas of Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar (part) and Anna Nagar (part) zones; integrated stormwater drain works worth ₹1,357.60 crore are underway in the Kovalam basin areas of Ananthur, Perungudi and Mozhingnallur zones; stormwater drain works worth ₹756.96 crore and canal improvement works worth ₹295.25 crore are underway at various locations in Chennai under capital funding; pond improvement works worth ₹136.18 crore are underway; stormwater drain works worth ₹103 crore from Kodambakkam Bridge to Porur Junction and worth ₹22.88 crore from Madhavaram to Puzhal surplus water canal are underway; water-absorbing parks worth ₹34.15 crore are being built to conserve rainwater; and restoration and improvement works of Kadappakkam Lake worth ₹58.33 crore are underway. Of the improvement works being carried out on 33 canals in Corporation areas, works have been completed on 21 canals and are ongoing on 12 canals. Of a total canal length of 33,368 metres, improvement works have been taken up for 15,577 metres, of which works have been completed on 11,561 metres. Desilting works are also being carried out on 1,675.27 km of stormwater drains across 8,090 streets at an estimated cost of ₹22.55 crore. Desilting has been carried out on 68,281 of 1,09,975 silt-trap catch pits, and desilting works are ongoing on a further 41,694 silt-trap catch pits. For the removal of water hyacinth and silt from canals, lakes and rivers, 2 amphibian excavators, 3 amphibian excavators, 6 robotic multipurpose excavators, 3 mini amphibian excavators, and 7 super sucker vehicles are being deployed. Also on standby are 15 mobile high-mast lights, 15 power-driven tree-cutting vehicles, 231 tree-cutting machines, 52 telescopic tree-cutting machines, 5 vehicle-mounted tree-cutting machines, 6 JCBs, 76 Bobcat vehicles, 86 tipper lorries, 1 tele-handler, and 5 electric ladders. The Corporation has 525 motor pumps of various horsepower, 188 electric motor pumps, 150 high-horsepower motor pumps on hire, and 600 tractor-mounted motor pumps. For rescuing and sheltering the public in low-lying areas during the rainy season, 1,215 volunteers and 721 resident welfare associations are on standby. Continuous monitoring is being carried out from the Integrated Command and Control Centre at the Greater Chennai Corporation headquarters. To measure rainwater flooding, flood-measuring instruments have been installed at 40 locations, along with 55 rain gauges; boom barriers have been installed at 17 subways for public safety and traffic regulation; and zonal integrated command and control centres have been set up at three zonal deputy commissioner offices for continuous monitoring. Branches of trees that are falling or in a dangerous condition in Corporation areas have been removed. Officials were instructed to arrange basic amenities at the 215 relief centres set up to rescue and shelter the public in low-lying areas, and to keep boats and other equipment ready for rescuing people in low-lying areas. Officials were instructed to expedite stormwater drain works and the stormwater drain-connection works being carried out over 1,128 metres at 115 gap locations, in order to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater without obstruction. Officials were also instructed to complete ongoing road works soon, to immediately finish road works where road cuts have been made, and to restore roads promptly wherever old roads are excavated for such works, in order to ensure smooth traffic for the public. Officials were instructed to ensure adequate stocks of medicines during the Northeast Monsoon, to keep doctors and other medical staff on standby, and to continue conducting adequate medical camps. Officials were further instructed to promptly convey to the concerned authorities the complaints and grievances reported by the public through the helpline number 1913 regarding the monsoon, and to take immediate action. The Hon'ble Minister instructed the concerned officials to identify and rectify non-functioning streetlights and waterlogging spots in Corporation areas without delay, and to remove garbage promptly. Water Resources Department Officials were instructed to expedite, ahead of the monsoon, canal improvement works, desilting works in water bodies, and works to raise and construct retaining walls along canals, all of which are being undertaken by the Water Resources Department. Officials were instructed to expedite maintenance and desilting works on the Buckingham Canal, Cooum and Adyar rivers in Corporation areas, estimated at ₹25.55 crore, and flood-control works estimated at ₹80.63 crore. Highways Department The Highways Department maintains 430 km of stormwater drains, 18,000 silt-trap catch pits, 815 canals and minor bridges, 16 major bridges, 7 vehicular bridges, and 12 pedestrian subways. As monsoon preparedness measures, officials were instructed to carry out desilting works in canals, stormwater drains and silt-trap catch pits, to promptly restore roads wherever road-cutting works have been carried out, to remove branches of trees in dangerous condition, and to expedite ongoing flood-control works. Officials were instructed to expedite the Elcot bridge on Medavakkam-Mozhingnallur Road (estimated at ₹14.50 crore), large drains on Medavakkam-Mozhingnallur Road (estimated at ₹47.25 crore), large drains on OMR and ECR (estimated at ₹70 crore), large drains from Anai Lake to Pallikaranai (estimated at ₹20 crore), and drain works on Periyar Path Road interior road (estimated at ₹6.37 crore), and to keep flood-monitoring teams on standby. Chennai Metro Rail Limited Officials were instructed to expedite works on the Otteri canal, Okkiyam Maduvu canal, the Cooum river crossing, Captain Cotton canal, Mambalam canal and Trustpuram canal, and to promptly restore all stormwater drains affected by CMRL works. Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Officials were instructed to establish round-the-clock online monitoring systems at 87 sewage pumping connection stations in Chennai, and to keep on standby, on hire, sewage-removal lorries from other districts, diesel generator sets of various capacities for all SPS and WDS stations, and dewatering pump sets of various capacities. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Officials were instructed to keep preparatory works ready in areas identified as vulnerable to storms and floods based on past years' experience in Chennai. The height of 12,499 low-lying power distribution boxes in vulnerable areas has been raised to 1 metre above road level. 9,546 damaged low-voltage pillar boxes have been repaired. Exposed underground cables at 7,819 locations have been repaired. At substations located in low-lying areas, the plinth level of 37 power transformers has been raised to 1 metre, and the marshalling boxes of 6 power transformers at substations in low-lying areas have been raised to a height of 1 metre. Old conductors have been replaced over a length of 1,201 km. To improve storm resilience, distribution wires spanning 916 km have been strengthened. Officials were instructed to expedite ongoing flood-management works and to appoint responsible officers for the monsoon period. Tambaram Corporation Officials were instructed to complete ongoing stormwater drain works in Tambaram Corporation ahead of the monsoon, and to immediately commence and complete works requiring permission from other departments. Avadi Corporation Officials were instructed to expedite ongoing stormwater drain works, underground sewerage pipeline-laying works, drinking water pipeline-laying works, round-the-clock water supply to model water distribution zones in Avadi Corporation, and improvement of the existing water supply infrastructure for uncovered areas, and to immediately commence and complete works requiring permission from other departments. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Thiru Gajendra Singh Bedi, IAS; Principal Secretaries Dr. Sathya Pratha Bagu, IAS (Water Resources Department) and Thiru Sunchongam Zathang Siro, IAS (Highways and Minor Ports Department); Corporation Commissioner Dr. G.S. Sameeran, IAS; Managing Director of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Thiru Tha. Anand, IAS; and senior officials from Municipal Commissioners' offices and the Water Resources Department, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Electricity Department, Highways Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply Board, Chennai Metro Rail, and other concerned departments. *********** Issued By: - Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9