Chandigarh: The municipal corporation (MC) has intensified efforts to tackle chronic waterlogging in city markets, launching two stormwater drainage projects worth nearly Rs 1.6 crore in Sectors 46 and 37.The public health wing of the MC’s engineering department on Thursday began work on a Rs 1.28-crore rainwater drainage project in the Sector 46 commercial area, which has long been plagued by water accumulation during heavy showers.Officials said the existing stormwater pipelines in the market have a small diameter, limiting their capacity to drain rainwater quickly during intense rainfall. As a result, water often inundates the market, causing inconvenience to shopkeepers and raising the risk of damage to goods.Area councillor Gurpreet Singh said a larger stormwater pipeline is being laid to provide a permanent solution. “Under the project, a 1,560-metre-long concrete stormwater pipeline will be laid. Around 57 new manhole chambers and 160 new and upgraded road gullies will also be constructed,” he said.According to Singh, the larger pipelines will significantly enhance the area’s drainage capacity, while bigger catch basins will channel rainwater more efficiently into the stormwater network, helping prevent waterlogging on surrounding roads.Sector 46 Market Association president Balwinder Singh welcomed the project, saying infrastructure upgrades in the market have steadily improved facilities for both traders and residents.In a separate development, Mayor Saurabh Joshi laid the foundation stone for a Rs 31-lakh stormwater drainage project behind the showroom market and parking area near the public toilet block in Sector 37.The project involves laying 600mm and 450mm diameter concrete pipes to strengthen the existing drainage network and improve rainwater disposal during the monsoon. The new infrastructure is expected to reduce water accumulation around the showroom market and adjoining parking area.Speaking on the occasion, the mayor said strengthening stormwater drainage infrastructure remains a priority for the MC, particularly in areas prone to heavy water flow during rainfall. He added that such projects would help make civic services more efficient and responsive to residents’ needs.Joshi also directed officials to prominently display the project’s commencement date and completion deadline on the foundation plaque to ensure transparency and keep citizens informed about the work schedule.
