Chennai, Oct 16 || As Chennai begins to experience the first spells of the northeast monsoon, concerns are mounting across the city over the unfinished stormwater drain (SWD) works that threaten to undo the flood-mitigation efforts.
Despite repeated assurances from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), crucial desilting and drain-laying projects remain incomplete, leaving residents in several localities bracing for waterlogging and traffic disruption.
In Saidapet’s Kumaran Colony, the situation has become particularly tense. Work on a key stormwater drain along Kumaran Colony 1st Street was abruptly halted for nearly two weeks due to a change in the alignment plan.
The decision to shift the drain from one side of the road to the other -- after objections citing proximity to houses and borewells -- has further delayed progress. The timing of the resumed work, coinciding with the onset of rains, has added to residents’ frustration, as the busy stretch leading to Aranganathan Subway and Old Mambalam Road remains blocked.