The Water Resources Department (WRD) is poised to greenlight the continuation of the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Corridor Project, following the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) commitment to river restoration and debris removal post-construction. This undertaking addresses prior environmental concerns, including the obstruction of river flow and potential flood risks during the northeast monsoon.
The project, aimed at easing cargo transportation, had stalled due to these issues. The WRD has mandated phased construction and a comprehensive action plan for debris management, with additional collaboration on dredging the Cooum river mouth if necessary. This move signifies a significant step towards resuming the ₹5,885-crore infrastructure initiative, initially launched in 2009.