Chennai Waterways Get ₹7,500 Crore Boost

Chennai's major waterways, including the Cooum, Adyar, and Buckingham Canal, are poised for revival following the Union government's in-principle approval of ₹7,500 crore. This funding, secured under the Urban Challenge Fund, will support the Chief Minister's Integrated Urban Transformation Mission (CMIUTM), a comprehensive plan for infrastructure development across 25 corporations.

The initiative seeks to ensure uniform development by implementing standardized projects, from road relaying to flood prevention measures like sponge parks. Modern parks and recreational facilities are also planned for major cities. The state aims to secure an additional ₹30,000 crore from the Centre and explore other funding avenues to meet the total project requirement of ₹1.5 lakh crore.

Officials emphasize a priority on waterway restoration, with visible improvements expected within five years. Local bodies are tasked with preparing detailed project reports to accelerate the implementation of CMIUTM initiatives, ensuring no district is left behind in the development drive.