Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

National Highways battles with flooding in subway

K.V. Prasad

Stormwater drains choked with garbage

TROUBLING WATERS: The subway below the Avanashi Road Flyover. - Photo: M. Periasamy

COIMBATORE: With the subway under Avanashi Road Flyover getting flooded during heavy rain, the National Highways has listed the problems that plague the 35-year-old structure.

It was designed in 1970 with the vehicle population's growth factor considered for the next 25 years. Ten more years have gone by with no additional infrastructure to ease the burden of this long-serving flyover.

Officials point to the blinding pace of rise in vehicle population over the last five to six years and the other flyover at North Coimbatore three km away offers no relief. Even that flyover is overburdened.

The single major problem both flyovers face is the flooding of the subways. But, the one below Avanashi Flyover suffers more than the other. And, this flyover and the subway right below grab more attention as they are located on the busiest road in the city.

The flooding of the subway leads to vehicles piling up on the flyover. The National Highways pumps water out of the subway using four motors but slush remains to force even cyclists to use the flyover.

In a detailed report submitted to the Divisional Engineer of the National Highways, with copies to the District Collector, Southern Railway and Coimbatore Corporation, the Assistant Divisional Engineer, R. Krishnakumar, has pointed out that till a couple of years ago, only four feet of water stagnated in the subway. But, railway line work between North Coimbatore railway station and the Coimbatore Junction had altered the gradient. Now, gradients from either end converge above the subway and leave it under 12 feet of water.

The Highways feels that the Southern Railway can work out a method of draining water from its tracks without the subway being affected.

No financial provision

Another reason for the flooding is that storm water drains in Uppilipalayam, Grey Town, Sukrawarpet and Brooke Bond Road are choked with garbage. This leads to rainwater flowing into the subway, Mr. Krishnakumar points out.

Official sources say that the department does not have financial provision to maintain the subway. It has sanction only to maintain the flyover. And there are no workers to remove garbage.

In such a situation, the Highways looks for support from the Corporation to remove them. After the Highways pumps water out, the Corporation needs to spare its conservancy workers only for two hours to clean up the subway, sources say.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A green effort from home pays off
National Highways battles with flooding in subway
Farmers unfazed, but cautious
Diabetes affects eyes, can lead to blindness, says expert
NSIC assistance to SSIs for expansion
Go Air to launch services from today
Corporation nets Rs. 8 crores as tax
Training programme for SHG members
Classical music competition
Power shutdown
Vaccination for dogs
Around the City
In Coimbatore Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu