T’puram: Residents of Vettucaud, Veli and Balanagar may finally get relief from recurring waterlogging, with the construction of a crucial culvert near the airport road expected to be completed within two weeks.The 315m-long culvert, being constructed by the irrigation department between All Saints College and BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, is in its final stage. The structure is aimed at improving the flow of rainwater and preventing water from accumulating on roads and residential areas during the monsoon.The project is part of a Rs 5-crore package being implemented to address waterlogging in the Vettucaud-Veli-Balanagar belt. Of this, Rs 2 crore has been earmarked for the culvert.The new structure will connect the drain beneath the airport road with the drain near BrahMos Aerospace. The connection is expected to provide a continuous drainage route and prevent rainwater from remaining stagnant in low-lying areas.The areas have been witnessing severe waterlogging during the monsoon, with even short spells of heavy rain causing water to enter houses and inundate roads. The existing drainage channels frequently get blocked by soil and other debris, restricting the natural flow of rainwater.The remaining amount from the Rs 5-crore package will be used for constructing and improving drains at various locations in the affected areas. Tender procedures for the remaining works are under way.An irrigation department official said the culvert was being constructed to ensure that rainwater from the affected areas gets a proper outlet instead of accumulating along the airport road and nearby residential areas. “The culvert work is in the final stage and is expected to be completed within two weeks. Once the drainage channels are properly connected, the flow of rainwater in the area will improve considerably,” the official said.The completion of the project is expected to be particularly significant during the peak monsoon period, when residents of Vettucaud, Veli and Balanagar have been facing repeated disruptions due to waterlogging.The project also assumes importance as the airport road and surrounding areas have witnessed considerable development, increasing the need for an efficient drainage network.The corporation plans to take up additional drainage works after completing the tender process, with the larger objective of providing a permanent solution to the long-standing waterlogging problem in the area.
