SWD works in Chennai will be complete in 90 days: KN Nehru

CHENNAI: Minister for Municipal Administration KN Nehru said that all the ongoing storm water drainage (SWD) works in the city would be completed in 3 months.

“Chief Minister MK Stalin has instructed us to complete the works before onset of northeast monsoon season. The works, covering 179.45 km totally (at the cost of Rs 608.24 crore), are going on at a rapid pace. We’ve pooled additional resources and the works would be completed in 90 days,” said Nehru at the Secretariat.

File photo of storm water drain works near Egmore stadium

Under the first phase of Singara Chennai 2.0, which commenced on March 14 this year, works for 40.08 km (for an estimated Rs 203 crore) have been undertaken and 32% works have been completed. The areas that are covered in phase 1 are Seethammal colony, GN Chetty Road, Bazullah Road, Rajamannar Road, Habibullah Road, Ashok Nagar, Rippon building and Asish Nagar.

In phase 2, which commenced on May 17, for 20.03 km (at the cost of Rs 73.54 crore), so far, 12% works have been completed. The areas covered are Pulianthope, Broadway, Adyar, Ambedkar Road and so on.

Under the flood relief fund, SWD works, which started on May 18, for 107.57 km are undertaken at the cost of Rs 295.73 crore. So far, 14% has been completed. The areas covered are Ennore-Kathivakkam, Manali, Madhavaram. Ambattur and Kolathur.

Under the Infrastructure and Amenities fund, works for a distance of 10 km are undertaken at the cost of Rs 27 crore and so far, 40% has been completed. Under the Central Grants Fund (CGF) scheme, works for 1.5 km have been undertaken at the cost of Rs 8.26 crore. So far, 45% has been completed.

Work in Kosasthalai river basin for 769 km had been undertaken with the monetary aid from Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Rs 3,220 crore. Similarly, in the Kovalam basin, work order for 320 km had been issued with financial aid from a German bank at the cost of Rs 1,714 crore.

Minister Nehru also said that to complete the work at the stipulated time, meetings are held once in three days.

“Those contractors who do not comply with the pace of work are fined. The number of labourers is calculated based on the number of days required for pending works. Additional labourers are brought in from other districts and states,” added the Minister.