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Coimbatore's Sanganoor Canal: Why a 4-Year Restoration Drags On

The restoration of Coimbatore's Sanganoor Canal is moving at a snail's pace nearly four years after it began. Delays in relocating families living along the banks have repeatedly stalled the construction of service roads. While some retaining walls are now complete, major portions of the project remain unfinished. Officials have now submitted a massive new proposal to extend the work and finally connect key city roads.

Key Points: Sanganoor Canal Restoration in Coimbatore Faces Delays After 4 Years

  • Project launched in 2021 aims to transform a polluted urban waterway with roads and walkways
  • First 2.3-km phase stalled for 10 months due to delayed relocation of families
  • About 80 families still await eviction, hampering road construction along the canal
  • A fresh Rs 235 crore proposal seeks to extend the project for 6.5 km more
2 min read

Four years after launch, Sanganoor canal restoration in TN's Coimbatore drags on

Four years after its launch, Coimbatore's Sanganoor Canal restoration project remains incomplete due to encroachment hurdles and slow execution, delaying urban renewal.

"Works came to a standstill for nearly 10 months... as families... had not been provided alternative housing. - Article"

Coimbatore, Dec 10

The long-awaited restoration of the Sanganoor Canal continues to crawl forward nearly four years after it was ceremonially launched, with major portions of the 11-km waterway still incomplete due to delays in execution and persistent hurdles in clearing encroachments.

The project was inaugurated in November 2021 by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during his visit to Coimbatore, soon after the DMK government assumed office. The canal, which cuts through the heart of the city, has remained dry and severely polluted for decades. The rejuvenation project raised hopes of transforming it into a functional urban waterway with improved drainage, pedestrian facilities and parallel service roads.

The first phase of the restoration covered a 2.3-km stretch from Mettupalayam Road to Sathyamangalam Road and was sanctioned for Rs 49 crore. A second package for a 1-km extension, estimated at Rs 30.3 crore, was later shelved.

The project scope included the construction of gabion and retaining walls, strengthening embankments with reinforced concrete, laying chip stones along the canal bed, along with pedestrian walkways and service roads on both sides. However, progress on the ground has been sluggish. Works came to a standstill for nearly 10 months from August 2022 as families living along the canal banks had not been provided alternative housing. In the absence of timely relocation support from the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, civic officials were unable to remove encroachments required for road construction.

Work resumed only in June 2023, but the pace has remained slow since then. Officials of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation said that gabion and retaining walls have now been completed along the entire 2.5-km stretch, including an additional 200 metres up to the Rathinapuri bridge, based on instructions from the Directorate of Municipal Administration. However, road works continue to be hampered by pending evictions.

Around 200 houses were identified along this stretch. Of these, about 100 families have already been provided alternative accommodation, while 20 applications are under verification. Nearly 80 families are still awaiting relocation. So far, only 300 metres of BT road and about 1.5 km of water-bound macadam road have been completed.

Meanwhile, in March 2025, the civic body submitted a fresh proposal seeking Rs 235 crore for the next 6.5-km phase of the project. The expanded plan aims to provide uninterrupted road connectivity from Mettupalayam Road to Trichy Road via Sathyamangalam and Avinashi Roads, potentially turning the canal corridor into a major new urban mobility route for Coimbatore.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
While delays are disappointing, we must also think about the 80 families still waiting for relocation. The project is important, but not at the cost of leaving people homeless. The Slum Clearance Board needs to act faster. A balance is needed.
K
Karthik V
Typical story of Indian infrastructure projects. Grand launch, photo ops with politicians, and then years of delays. Now they're asking for 235 crores more? What about accountability for the initial funds? Taxpayers deserve better.
P
Priya S
I live near Sathyamangalam Road and the partial work done has already improved the area a bit. The vision of a clean canal with walkways is beautiful. Hope they complete it soon. Coimbatore needs more such green and blue spaces. 🤞
M
Michael C
As someone who has worked on urban projects abroad, the complexity here is real. Encroachment clearance with rehabilitation is a massive task. The 10-month halt shows the system tried to be humane. The new 235 crore proposal needs very detailed planning to avoid repeat delays.
A
Ananya R
The idea of turning it into a mobility corridor is excellent for reducing traffic on Avinashi Road. But first, finish the basic restoration! A dry, polluted canal running through the city is a shame. Let's hope the next phase gets executed with better efficiency.

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