CHENNAI: Ahead of the northeast monsoon, the State Highways Department has started clearing silt and blockages from three culverts along Jawaharlal Nehru Salai near Velachery MRTS station. The work aims to improve the flow of rainwater and reduce the risk of flooding in nearby residential areas.
Residents of flood-prone Velachery had urged the government to remove the silt and other obstructions from the culverts. These structures connect to Veerangal Odai, and clearing them is expected to help rainwater flow more quickly towards Okkiyam Maduvu.
The three culverts are located along the southern section of the Inner Ring Road. Two of them are balancing culverts. One has a span of 7.5 metres and is located near Puzhuthivakkam Station. The other has two cells, each measuring 9 metres, and is situated near Velachery MRTS station.
The third structure is a disposal culvert with two 9-metre cells. It carries water from Veerangal Odai towards the Kaiveli side, according to a Highways Department official.
The department has cleared the portions of all three culverts that fall under its control, covering around 15 metres on either side of each structure. Workers are using both manual labour and machinery to remove the accumulated silt and obstructions.
Excavators, earthmovers and floating equipment are being used to carry out the work. The clearance is intended to improve stormwater drainage before the northeast monsoon brings heavy rainfall to Chennai.
The work is particularly important for Velachery, which has faced flooding during periods of intense rain. Better water flow through the culverts could help drain rainwater more efficiently and reduce the impact of waterlogging in the surrounding areas.