Chennai residents living near Metro construction corridors are raising red flags over delayed flood mitigation work.
Despite repeated appeals and mounting concerns, many neighbourhoods remain vulnerable to waterlogging and flash floods—a situation worsened by ongoing Metro construction and lack of coordination among civic agencies. The issue is particularly severe in over 50 localities across the city, including densely populated areas such as Anna Nagar, T. Nagar, Kodambakkam, Porur, Otteri, Purasawalkam, Nungambakkam, and Thoraipakkam. These areas have witnessed intense disruption due to incomplete Metro Rail work, especially in the restoration of stormwater drains and road surfaces. Residents are demanding immediate attention to avoid a repeat of past monsoon flooding incidents that damaged property, halted public transport, and disrupted livelihoods.
In Anna Nagar West Extension, residents report that flood levels reached up to four feet during last year’s monsoon, particularly on arterial roads such as East Main Road and North Main Road. Many ground-floor apartments in residential complexes had to be vacated after a 15-minute rain spell caused inundation. “It was never this bad before the Metro Rail work started,” said a resident representative, highlighting that at least ten of the sixteen ground-floor homes in their complex had to be vacated due to repeated flooding. The community has been urging the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), and the Highways Department to urgently restore the stretch between the Koyambedu and Padi grade separators.
Elsewhere in Otteri and Purasawalkam, Metro station construction has disrupted drainage pathways, leading to stagnant water and worsening road conditions. Residents complain that even short bursts of rainfall now bring traffic to a standstill. “The moment it rains, vehicles get stranded, and traffic is paralysed in these already congested roads,” said a resident from Otteri. Local citizens have called for greater coordination between the GCC and CMRL to manage the issue effectively. In Thoraipakkam, the impact is equally dire. Along the Rajiv Gandhi Salai corridor, Metro construction has resulted in blocked or dismantled stormwater drains, increasing the risk of water stagnation. Residents of Seevaram and surrounding areas report severe delays in commuting, especially for students and office-goers. “What used to be mild waterlogging has now turned into deep pools of stagnant water after even light rainfall,” said a resident. The GCC has been urged to intervene promptly before the monsoon intensifies.
The situation is compounded in areas like Nungambakkam and Kodambakkam, where roads were previously repaved after Metro work concluded, only to be dug up again for additional utility work. Residents on Sterling Road and along the Vadapalani-Kodambakkam stretch warn that without permanent restoration, the issue will persist year after year. “We saw some improvement when the roads were finally paved, but if they dig them up again before the monsoon, we are back to square one,” said a Nungambakkam resident. Ward councillors have echoed these concerns. In Ward 193, the representative pointed out how civic infrastructure like police stations and bus depots were submerged during the last monsoon due to improper water flow management caused by Metro barricades and road diversions. The Jawaharlal Nehru Salai stretch has been a particular pain point, and residents have sought intervention at the state level to ensure that the Highways Department and Metro authorities work in tandem to finish flood-prevention work before it is too late.
Experts suggest that the problem stems not just from delays but from fundamental lapses in planning and inter-departmental coordination. One expert, who developed Chennai’s first resilience index, stressed that many construction barricades block natural water channels and worsen inundation. “Before placing such structures, the agencies must consider the topography and hydraulics of the area,” he said. “Any obstruction to stormwater flow in a city with a flat terrain and narrow drainage system is bound to create problems.” Urban development specialists point to flawed designs in elevated infrastructure like the Porur flyover, where raising road levels to prevent flooding may block access for heavy vehicles. Such projects illustrate how reactive planning without comprehensive risk assessment creates long-term urban vulnerabilities.
A former professor of urban affairs at Anna University has called for a comprehensive, multi-agency response, saying: “There must be seamless coordination between all stakeholders—CMRL, GCC, CMDA, CMWSSB, and others. When you plan underground stations or major infrastructure, you must also assess the area’s flood history, drainage capacity, and hydrological patterns.” He cited the example of the Delhi Master Plan, where flood-prone zones are designated as ‘Zone 0’, or no-construction zones, to avoid such problems. Chennai’s planners, he argues, could benefit from adopting such zoning practices.
The flood preparedness situation is also drawing attention in light of the Southwest monsoon, which precedes the heavier Northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu. Residents in vulnerable zones are already facing water stagnation from recent pre-monsoon showers. Several local civic groups have submitted written petitions asking for proactive desilting of drains, clearing of debris near construction barricades, and round-the-clock helplines for emergency road restoration. While GCC officials claim that a joint inspection and assessment team—comprising members from Metro Rail and civic departments—is already visiting affected areas, residents fear that action may come too late. Last-minute repairs, they warn, are rarely effective, particularly when it involves large-scale civil engineering.
The Chennai Metro, a critical piece of sustainable urban mobility, has so far been welcomed for its long-term potential. However, the immediate disruption it has caused—especially in a city prone to seasonal flooding—is eroding public trust. A city cannot claim progress while its citizens remain ankle-deep in water every year. With less than a few weeks before the Northeast monsoon sets in, Chennai’s civic agencies face a tight deadline. The challenge is not only to complete the work but to do it right—ensuring that every kilometre of Metro construction aligns with sustainable, flood-resilient urban development.
If Chennai is to become a model for climate-adaptive infrastructure in India, then flood mitigation can no longer be treated as an afterthought. It must be integrated into the very fabric of infrastructure planning. Until then, the city’s residents can only brace themselves for yet another rainy season of uncertainty.
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