Chennai: To prevent flooding and enhance connectivity, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the highways department have decided to construct additional bridges across the Virugambakkam canal. One bridge will be built at Kannagi Street at a cost of ₹2.25 crore, and another at Ko Su Mani Road and Thirukumaranpuram. The highways department will separately construct a bridge near Arumbakkam Metro station.
Inspection and Directives
GCC commissioner G S Sameeran inspected under-construction and completed bridges across the canal on Thursday. He directed officials to expedite the work ahead of the northeast monsoon. “GCC has undertaken desilting, raising retaining walls, and constructing six new bridges to improve connectivity between residential areas on both sides of the canal,” he said.
Completed Bridges
A bridge at Tamilar Veedhi, costing ₹4.98 crore, and another at Indira Gandhi 2nd Street, costing ₹2.32 crore, have been completed and opened for public use, the commissioner added.
Canal Ownership and Bridge Upgrades
GCC took ownership of the Virugambakkam Canal from the water resources department last year. The canal originates from Nerukundram in the western suburbs and has 24 bridges along its course. Of these, 11 bridges with narrow vents—2 feet wide and 5 feet tall—will be demolished, as they reduce the flow from 1700 cusecs to 800 cusecs, causing backflow.
The new bridges will feature 8-foot-high arch culverts to allow water to flow at a rate of 1300 cusecs and will also accommodate heavy vehicles. GCC is also planning a 2.5-kilometer cut-and-cover diversion drain from Aminjikarai to the Cooum River along the Poonamallee High Road.
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About the Author: Omjasvin M D is a Principal Correspondent with The Times of India, currently reporting from the Tamil Nadu Secretariat after starting his career as a civic reporter. He has broken impactful investigations from the toilet scam, parking scam to the expose on shadow councillors that pushed accountability and reform in the city. His work blends storytelling, data journalism, investigation and developmental reporting. He also does video stories, expanding his journalism into multimedia storytelling. At heart, he is driven by one goal: to uncover the truth and make governance more transparent for the people it serves.
