Greater Chennai Corporation plans to restore Nandanam Canal to Prevent Flooding in T Nagar
In a significant move to address the recurring flooding woes in T Nagar, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to restore the 2km-long Nandanam Canal, which runs through the neighbourhood and often contributes to the annual flooding during the monsoon season. With tenders now floated for the canal’s restoration, GCC aims to deepen the canal by 2 feet and strengthen its infrastructure with boundary walls near key locations like Chamiers Road, Lotus Colony, Rain Tree Hotel, and the Adyar River. The renovation is expected to improve the canal’s water flow capacity from 18.7 cusecs to 30 cusecs, a critical upgrade for the flood-prone areas in T Nagar.
The Nandanam Canal, which serves as a supplementary channel to the Mambalam Canal, stretches from the Rain Tree Hotel and passes under Anna Salai in Nandanam Junction, eventually meeting the Adyar River after crossing Lotus Colony. As it currently stands, the canal’s narrow width of just 3 feet is insufficient to handle the volume of water, particularly during the monsoon. As a result, areas like Chamiers Road, Lotus Colony, and Venkatnarayana Road Junction experience severe flooding, with water levels often reaching ankle to knee-deep. The canal’s inadequate capacity has caused immense inconvenience to residents and businesses in these bustling parts of T Nagar, especially when the Mambalam Canal also swells due to excess water being released into the Adyar River.
GCC’s proposal addresses several longstanding issues with the canal’s design. According to Pughazhendhi, Executive Engineer at the GCC’s Teynampet zone, two specific spots along the canal have improper invert levels, causing water to flow in reverse, exacerbating flooding. To fix this, the authorities plan to demolish the problematic sections and reconstruct them with proper invert levels. Additionally, the boundary walls near Chamiers Road will be raised to six feet to prevent water overflow. The restoration project is expected to provide significant relief to T Nagar residents by improving the canal’s efficiency and water flow capacity.
A key challenge that remains is the cleaning of certain sections of the canal, especially where it passes beneath the Nandanam Metro Station. Currently, GCC is unable to access at least 100 meters of the canal for cleaning. To overcome this, Muthiah, Executive Engineer for the Teynampet zone, mentioned that efforts are underway to flush the canal using a jet rodding machine. In addition, the installation of nets along the canal’s boundary walls aims to prevent waste dumping, which has been a persistent issue in the area. The restoration plan also includes the installation of more motors near Sathyamurthy Nagar to help divert excess water from the Mambalam Canal, which is being impacted by ongoing metro construction at Venkatnarayana Road.
This restoration project is a part of GCC’s broader strategy to enhance flood management and stormwater drainage systems across Chennai. The Nandanam Canal’s restoration aligns with the city’s focus on urban development and flood prevention, ensuring that key residential and commercial areas remain safe from flooding. However, the project also highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining and upgrading existing civic infrastructure to keep pace with the city’s growth. Beyond infrastructure, there is a growing need for sustainability in flood management projects, especially given the increasing urbanisation of areas like T Nagar. Sustainable urban planning involves not only addressing immediate flooding issues but also creating systems that can withstand future climate challenges, ensuring the city’s resilience against the growing threat of extreme weather events.
For T Nagar, this canal restoration marks a crucial step in enhancing the area’s flood management capabilities. By improving drainage systems and investing in essential infrastructure upgrades, GCC aims to provide residents with a more secure, flood-free environment. However, this project also serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable urban development, where long-term planning and environmental considerations play a central role in building resilient cities capable of adapting to the challenges posed by climate change and rapid urban growth.
