SWD works: Chennai Police’s approval must to dig roads

CHENNAI: Chennai City Traffic Police will soon be having a single window system to approve permission for road cuts from Chennai Corporation and Highways department, which are racing against time to finish stormwater drain works across the city.

Traffic police should be informed in advance and necessary permission has to be obtained from the traffic point of view, for any road cut works undertaken.

Due to the civic works across the city, several motorable roads have narrowed down resulting in a hassle for motorists and vehicle users.

To address these issues, City Police Commissioner, Shankar Jiwal met the Secretary of the Highways Department, Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Officials and Engineers of the Greater Chennai Corporation and Highways department on Monday.

The co-ordination aspects of permission from the Chennai Police to various departments and the difficulties faced by the road users due to ongoing stormwater drain works on the roads were discussed, an official release said.

Accordingly, Chennai traffic police will expedite the permissions for the stormwater drain works received from Greater Chennai Corporation and Highways department by having a single window system for receiving the permission for road cuts.

Priority will be given to permit and execute works related to missing links of stormwater drain.

“Out of all the ongoing works, Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) will shortlist and convey the list of works which are causing hindrance in traffic. Greater Chennai Corporation and Highways department will be required to prioritise and expedite the works,” an official said.

Wherever the work has been completed and the finishing works pending, GCTP will convey to both departments and they will bring the roads to the pre-construction levels.

Apart from this, considering the safety of motorists, a WhatsApp group has been formed where issues related to provision and visibility of the barricading in the night of the storm water drain work will be flagged and attended to.

To facilitate the completion of stormwater drain works on war footing basis, on the request of concerned departments, selected ready mix concrete vehicles will also be permitted on city roads during non-peak hours in day time, police said.