Chennai’s Velachery residents have renewed demands for a permanent solution to recurring flooding after heavy overnight rain inundated parts of AGS Colony, Ram Nagar and other low-lying neighbourhoods during the northeast monsoon. The state government has said it will seek assistance from Indian Institute of Technology Madras experts to examine the causes of the repeated waterlogging.
Information technology minister and Velachery MLA R. Kumar announced the proposed study during an inspection of the affected areas. He said the Greater Chennai Corporation had installed additional high-capacity pumps and was removing accumulated water from streets within three to four hours.
“Velachery, including Ram Nagar and AGS Colony, is a water basin. Buildings were constructed in this basin around 40 years ago, so waterlogging naturally occurs during heavy rain. Now, the water is being pumped out within three to four hours because of the extensive efforts taken by Greater Chennai Corporation,” Kumar said, according to the report.
The minister directed officials to deploy more tractor-mounted motor pumps and maintain round-the-clock monitoring in the affected areas. South Chennai MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian and Chennai Mayor R. Priya also inspected the flooded junction of AGS Colony Third Main Road and Sixth Cross Street.
Officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, revenue department and Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation were present during the inspection. Their involvement reflects the range of services affected when flooding persists, including drainage, water management, electricity and emergency administration.
Residents said pumping out water was necessary during heavy rain but could not replace a long-term assessment of the area’s drainage, topography and water-disposal arrangements. They have sought a comprehensive study by experts from IIT Madras and Anna University, conducted in coordination with government departments, to identify the root causes of recurring inundation and prepare an integrated flood mitigation plan.
“We have requested a comprehensive study of AGS Colony and adjoining flood-prone neighbourhoods by experts from IIT-M and Anna University, in coordination with the government departments, to identify the root causes of recurring flooding and prepare a permanent, integrated flood mitigation plan,” said Geetha Ganesh, secretary of the AGS Colony Residents’ Welfare Association.
The residents’ concerns extend beyond water removal. The association has also renewed a decades-old demand for direct road connectivity from the neighbourhood to Velachery Bypass Road through vacant land belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department.
According to the association, the absence of an alternative exit towards the MRTS Inner Ring Road or Velachery Bypass Road creates difficulties during severe flooding, particularly when residents need to leave the area in emergencies. The association said Kumar took up the connectivity request with the HR&CE minister on Sunday after inspecting the flooded neighbourhoods.
Residents welcomed the intervention but said the immediate priority remained addressing recurrent inundation through a coordinated infrastructure plan. The proposed expert study, additional pumping arrangements and discussions over an alternative access route are the next steps identified in response to the latest flooding.
