NHAI begins phased removal of Cooum river bunds ahead of monsoon

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated the removal of temporary work platforms erected along the Cooum River for the construction of the 20-km double-decker Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Corridor.

Officials said the decision follows a meeting convened by Additional Chief Secretary of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, on Saturday to review northeast monsoon preparedness. The NHAI had assured that the platforms would be cleared before the first week of October to allow unobstructed water flow during the rainy season.

Around 250 temporary structures were set up to facilitate the movement of workers and heavy machinery around the bridge pillars. The riverbed and banks are soft, making these platforms necessary for construction. Officials stated the bunds would be removed in phases, prioritising areas where work is nearing completion. Each bund, roughly 10 metres long, contains earth equivalent to about four lorry loads.

This is not the first such exercise. The NHAI has been removing these bunds before every monsoon for the past two years. In 2024, the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal directed the Water Resources Department and NHAI to monitor the river's water flow. Residents living along the Cooum have previously expressed concerns about the bunds obstructing the river.