Chennai Corporation has embarked on preparations for a comprehensive infrastructure project aimed at modernizing and expanding the existing sewerage system across key urban areas such as Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Royapuram, Adyar, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, and Tondiarpet.
The initiative, led by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), aims to address longstanding issues of sewage overflow and groundwater contamination due to aging infrastructure. The project’s detailed planning phase, recently discussed in a meeting involving civic officials and stakeholders, emphasized the imperative of minimizing disruption to traffic flow and pedestrian movement during the extensive road digging operations slated to commence later this year. With over 15,000 streets in the core city reporting grievances related to sewage overflow and groundwater pollution, the urgency for upgraded systems is palpable.
Councillors representing affected wards, such as Ward 104 in Anna Nagar, highlighted the pressing need for infrastructure renewal, citing incidents of polluted well water and recurrent sewage overflow incidents affecting residential areas. The outdated sewerage network, designed four decades ago for a smaller urban footprint, now struggles to accommodate the increased sewage volumes from expanded residential and commercial developments. Public consultations have been proposed by residents’ associations to ensure effective coordination between civic authorities and local communities throughout the project’s execution phase.
This collaborative approach seeks to mitigate challenges and address civic issues promptly, enhancing overall project efficiency and community satisfaction. Key discussions during the meeting also revolved around the interim report presented by project consultants, outlining plans to enhance the sewage collection network linked to three major treatment plants in Kodungaiyur, Nesapakkam, and Koyambedu. Future-proofing measures were deliberated, including pipeline upgrades across municipal and state highway corridors to cater to projected urban growth over the next three to four decades.
