PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Authorities have claimed that the stormwater drainage system built under the Smart City project at Dehradun’s ISBT Chowk has successfully prevented waterlogging this monsoon. Despite consistent rainfall, no flooding has been reported in the area, which had for years turned into a chronic problem zone even during light showers, as per the officials. They claimed that local residents and commuters, long troubled by water accumulation, have expressed relief over the development. Considering the long-standing issue of water accumulation near ISBT during rainfall, the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal formed a technical core committee that studied the issue.
The officials informed that after this, the department concerned cleaned all 15 drainage chambers, installed manhole covers, re-laid blacktop roads and restored underground electrical and sewerage lines. Large Hume pipes were placed to enhance water flow capacity, and several tons of garbage were removed from the clogged drains. SDM Kumkum Joshi was assigned to supervise the site regularly during the construction phase.
The DM also monitored the work and did multiple inspections on priority to ensure timely completion. The DM said that waterlogging at ISBT Chowk posed serious inconvenience to commuters and often led to traffic disruptions and accidents. With the drainage system now functional, residents and travelers no longer face such challenges.
The administration also included a maintenance provision in the Smart City budget to ensure long-term upkeep of the infrastructure, he added.
