Chennai City has a road network of 2870 kms. Majority of which is maintained by Greater Chennai Corporation.Out of this, only 900 kms, of roads has Storm Water Drains. This drain network along with 16 minor canals, Coovum river, ‘ B ‘Canal, Adyar River form the rain water drainage network in the city. During heavy rains, water stagnates in several parts of the city. The existing Master plan for storm water drain system is more than a decade old.
In order to find out a comprehensive solution to relieve water stagnation, Greater Chennai Corporation joining with Public Works Department has appointed a consultant and prepared detailed project report and the same was appraised at Government of India. After sanction in State lever steering committee. In this project the city is divided into 12 water sheds and into 4 basins namely Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern and propose comprehensive system of drainage network. The projects for Micro and Macro drainage system have been sanctioned for Northern – Rs.359.87 crores, Central – Rs. 345.00 crores, Eastern – Rs.444.07 crores and Southern – Rs. 298.98 crores. The total cost of the project is Rs. 1447.92 crores.
In this project Greater Chennai Corporation will take up improvements of 16 canals, construction of new storm water drains to a length of 307km and Re- construction of storm water drains to a length of 149 km will be taken up under Micro Drainage system.
Based on the recommendations of the Project Report improvements works in Canals and Storm Water Drains works will be taken up in three years in a phased manner under JNNURM scheme of Government of India. The funding pattern is Government – 35%, State Government – 15%, Urban Local Body – 50%. After implementation of this scheme, water stagnation will be relieved considerably in the Chennai city.