Traffic congestion along some highways is set to increase owing to the project by the Greater Chennai Corporation to develop stormwater drains.
The civic body is planning to explore alternatives to reduce traffic congestion because of the project. Greater Chennai Corporation has already written to the Highways Department seeking permission to dig the roads.
Work on 260 kilometres of drains has started along 20 percent of the 1,980 roads as part of the Rs. 1,100-crore project funded by the World Bank.
World Bank and corporation officials conducted a review of the issues associated with the project on Tuesday.
Following permission from the traffic police, work on 20 percent of the roads has begun. But the stretches of drains near national highways and state highways will be taken up only after permission from the highways authorities concerned.
For example, Poonamallee High Road will be closed at four locations for the stormwater drain project.
Traffic along State highways such as Alapakkam Main Road, Arcot Road, Vanagaram Main Road and CTH road will also have to be diverted for the stormwater drain project. At least 2.2 km of Arcot Road will have to be dug up for the stormwater drain project in Valasaravakkam Zone. A 1.3-km stretch of CTH Road will be dug up for the stormwater drains in Ambattur Zone.
Greater Chennai Corporation is planning to use pre cast drains in many of such roads to completer the work on time. Alignment of many stormwater drains will also be changed to prevent removal of trees along many stretches. After a delay in the commencement of the integrated stormwater drain project due to the floods and elections, the civic body has started digging roads. Work on six to seven roads covered in each of the 35 packages has begun at Valasaravakkam, Alandur and Ambattur.
The project is expected to be completed in two years. Residents have requested the civic body to finish work before the monsoon.
