Chennai: Buckingham Canal Dredging Work Speeds Up at Rs 31 Crore
The dredging of Buckingham Canal, one of Chennai’s major waterways, is progressing rapidly at a cost of ₹31 crore, especially due to the ongoing monsoon season.
The canal, which stretches 7.3 km within the city limits, is currently undergoing dredging and beautification. Of this, 6.50 km of dredging has already been completed, officials said. As part of the project, plans have been made to plant pollution-absorbing plants along the canal banks to help remove toxins and improve water quality.
Once an important water transport route built by the British during the famine, Buckingham Canal has deteriorated over the years due to heavy encroachments and sewage inflow. Large sections have been converted into residential areas, causing major flooding during monsoons.
Social activists have long demanded steps to clean the canal and stop sewage discharge. Although funds were announced earlier, the major dredging effort has begun only now, four years after the DMK government came to power.
Buckingham Canal, historically stretching 796 km from Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) to Parangipettai (Tamil Nadu), played a vital role in trade and transport. Chennai’s Central area was once the only place in the world where waterways, railways, and roadways met at a single junction.
Under the current project, officials plan to stabilize the canal edges with stones and introduce greenery, especially near bridges. The initiative aims to enhance flood-carrying capacity, improve the canal’s ecological health, and potentially convert portions into public recreational spaces.
Officials say the successful completion of this project could significantly reduce monsoon-related flooding in Chennai.
