The Water Resources Department (WRD) will begin work on a detailed project report (DPR) to assess the feasibility of operating a Water Metro and developing National Waterway-4 (NW-4) along Buckingham Canal between Ennore and Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu.

As an initial step, a Rs 31-crore project will restore a five-km stretch from Chepauk to Greenways Road. Supported by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, the DPR will address navigability, pollution control, and structural challenges. Officials cited the need to dredge the canal to a minimum depth of three mtrs., as sludge has raised the bed one mtr. above mean sea level, reducing flow and flood capacity.

Plans include increasing carrying capacity by 700 cusecs, bank protection, and recreational spaces—without removing encroachments. The canal width varies from 50 m to 150 mtrs., but a minimum of 15 mtrs. is required for navigation. “We are also considering shutters/tidal gates to maintain water levels,” an official said. About 5,000 encroachments and 15 sewage outfalls have been identified within city limits.