The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran on Friday directed officials to expedite civic infrastructure projects to improve monsoon preparedness, ease traffic congestion, control stray cattle and prevent dog bite cases in the city.

At the first meeting to review civic infrastructure projects after the Assembly elections, Mr. Kumaragurubaran said: “All works that were delayed during the elections will be expedited to prepare the city for the onset of the Northeast monsoon later this year.

The GCC will complete work on animal birth control centres by June to achieve 500 surgeries per day, which will be crucial for controlling stray dogs. Two years ago, the number of surgeries was less than 70 per day. In a bid to reduce dog bite cases, the work on animal birth control centres have been expedited, officials said.

The corporation would expedite the work on improving the capacity to impound 2,200 stray cattle. As the complaints about cattle has increased in the city, the civic body has decided to complete work on a gaushala (cattle pound) by June. 

In a bid to ease traffic congestion in the city, work on the Ganesapuram bridge near the Ganesapuram subway will be expedited, and the work is expected to be completed before the onset of the Northeast monsoon in October. Work on a sump and pumping facility to mitigate flooding in Vyasarpadi in North Chennai near Ganesapuram bridge will also be expedited. Road relaying projects will resume shortly, officials said. 

The GCC has received many complaints about civic issues, including dog menace, stray cattle, delay in bridge construction because of challenges in railway clearance, road relaying and delay in storm water drain work during elections.

Pointing to the successful completion of most of the storm water drain projects in the city, residents have demanded the civic body to link drains with the major water ways in the next few months before the onset of the north east monsoon.

The Chennai Corporation has also proposed alternatives such as sump and pump arrangement instead of “push through” box culverts in railway land as the railway clearance has been delayed along the tracks.