CHENNAI: Ahead of the northeast monsoon, the state highways department has taken up desilting and clearance of three culverts along Jawaharlal Nehru Salai near Velachery MRTS station to improve storm water discharge and prevent flooding in the surrounding areas.
The works come after the residents of flood-prone Velachery urged the government to clear silt and obstructions from the culverts connecting Veerangal Odai and ensure faster discharge of rainwater towards Okkiyam Maduvu.
The three culverts being cleared are located along the southern sector of the Inner Ring Road. Two are balancing culverts - one with a 7.5-metre span near Puzhuthivakkam Station and another comprising two 9-metre cells near Velachery MRTS station. The third is a disposal culvert, also comprising two 9-metre cells, which connects Veerangal Odai towards the Kaiveli side, a highways department official said.
The department has desilted the portions of all three culverts under its jurisdiction, extending about 15 metres on either side. The work is being carried out using manpower and machinery, including excavators, earthmovers and floating equipment.
However, the officials said some portions pose difficulties due to a restricted vent height of around two metres, very soft clayey soil with poor bearing capacity and shallow water. The conditions also make manual cleaning hazardous, while conventional machinery and floating equipment cannot be deployed effectively in these stretches.
As a further measure, the department has proposed a trial using a specialised excavator with a temporary working platform to assess the feasibility of safely clearing the remaining portions. Appropriate methodology will be adopted based on the outcome of the trial, the officials said.
The residents had earlier pointed out that AGS Colony, located downstream of the drainage network and receiving water from more than 35 neighbouring areas, had experienced severe flooding in 2015, 2021 and 2023. They had also sought removal of silt and obstructions from Veerangal Odai and the culverts in Pallikaranai marshland to improve the flow of stormwater towards Okkiyam Maduvu.
