‘97 per cent works on drains along arterial roads over’: Highways Department

The department maintains 269 km long drains that run parallel to roads like Anna Salai, EVR Periyar Salai and Inner Ring Road.

“We have undertaken construction of 44 km SWD in the city this year, of which 97 per cent has been completed,” said an official. Considering the onset of the monsoon, he said works at the vulnerable locations that were prone to water stagnation were completed on priority. “Still, works are under way at various stretches of Anna Salai, EVR Periyar Salai, Inner Ring Road, Velachery Main Road and Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam High Road. The works would have been completed by now if not for the COVID-19 lockdown,” the official added.As part of the monsoon preparedness work, the department completed desilting of all the 269 km drain and 33 major bridges, said the official. To clear blockages in the drain, the department has procured super sucker – jet rodding machine. “We have 110 pumps with capacity varying from 10 to 50 HP to pump out water from the subways. We also have mobile teams to attend to waterlogging,” the official said.

The department also has pothole fixer machines to repair roads that suffer damages due to rain. “We will be able to repair minor damages with the help of the pothole fixer,” the official said.