Residents of Perambur have raised safety and drainage concerns over ongoing stormwater drain work at the junction of Venkatraman Canal Street and Perambur High Road North Side, prompting a Greater Chennai Corporation official to assure that engineers will inspect the structure and provide a slope to match the existing road level.
Residents alleged that the newly constructed drain is more than a foot above the existing road level. They said the mismatch could affect pedestrian and two-wheeler movement, while also altering the flow of rainwater towards Venkatraman Canal Street.
The complaint relates to work that is still under way on Perambur High Road North Side. Residents have asked the GCC to inspect the site and order corrective measures before the project is completed. They also raised concerns about the quality of construction and possible damage to underground utility lines.
“The SWD works are under way on Perambur High Road North Side. At Venkatraman Canal Street, we found structural defects and the execution is unacceptable. If the height is increased further, the road level will also have to be raised,” said Raghu Kumar Choodamani, convener of the Perambur Neighbourhood Development Forum.
A GCC official said the stormwater drain had been constructed to match the height of Perambur High Road. According to the official, reducing the drain’s height could cause rainwater to flow onto Venkatraman Canal Street. The Corporation will therefore provide a slope for the street, the official said.
The official also said engineers should inspect the structure and ensure that the work follows the approved design without compromising public safety. The assurance comes as residents seek clarity on the design levels at the junction and on how the transition between the drain and the existing road will be executed.
Residents said the elevated structure had already begun creating difficulties for pedestrian and two-wheeler movement. They also warned that advertisement boards from nearby commercial establishments could encroach on the raised drain and reduce the available passage.
“If the officials fail to take immediate action, the pedestrian walkway could also be encroached upon, forcing people to walk on the busy road,” Choodamani said.
Forum members attributed the problem to a lack of coordination between the GCC, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited. They compared the work with stormwater drain construction in Anna Nagar’s Shanthi Colony, where they said drains had been integrated with existing road levels.
“Senior engineering officials must personally inspect the site, verify the approved design levels against the actual execution, fix any damaged underground pipelines and restore a safe passage before these defects become permanent,” said V Srinivasa Raghavan, a resident.
The GCC’s proposed next step is an engineering inspection followed by the construction of a slope connecting the drain structure to Venkatraman Canal Street. The Corporation’s response leaves the design-level inspection and corrective work as the immediate milestones before the Perambur High Road North Side project is completed.
