CHENNAI: With no signs of progress on the proposed reconstruction of three narrow bridges across the Kodungaiyur canal, residents including those in Muthamizh Nagar, are urging the Greater Chennai Corporation to take up the work ahead of the northeast monsoon.
The project, estimated to cost `7.2 crore, was announced in April last year as part of flood-mitigation measures. The three bridges — South Avenue Road (`2.8 crore), North Avenue Road (`2.9 crore) and Cauvery Salai (`1.4 crore) were to be demolished and reconstructed at a higher elevation to allow the free flow of water through the canal during floods. The civic body had assured that the work would be completed before last year’s monsoon.
More than a year later, the work is yet to begin, and may not be taken up this year either. A corporation official said the work had been re-tendered twice or thrice last year, but there was no participation from bidders. “We also faced difficulties in obtaining police permission for traffic diversion, which is necessary for such public infrastructure works. With the GCC now facing a fund crunch, the project is unlikely to be taken up this year either,” the official said.
Ward councillor S Jeevan said the bridges, which are around 20-25 years old, were built for the water flow and population at the time, but now restrict the water flow during floods. Though the canal is desilted annually before the monsoon, silt beneath the bridges cannot be cleared because of their low level, he said.
“In 2024, water stagnated above waist level in several parts of Muthamizh Nagar and surrounding areas after the canal overflowed and water reached the bridge surface,” he said.
Jeevan said officials had told him that tenders had been floated three times but failed to attract bidders. He urged the civic body to float tenders for individual bridges if awarding all three together was proving difficult.
When TNIE visited the site, all three bridges were found to be in a deteriorated condition, with reinforcement rods exposed as the concrete had worn away.
LM Jai Ganesh, a Muthamizh Nagar resident, said nearly 3,000 residents were affected every monsoon. “If budget constraints are discouraging bidders, the project cost should be revised,” he said.
