Chennai Corporation Orders Road Milling Before Relaying to Prevent Rising Levels

Engineers across Chennai have been told to inspect road slopes, drainage arrangements and the levels of adjoining properties before relaying work begins, under a Greater Chennai Corporation circular dated October 27, 2026.

The directive is intended to prevent road levels from rising when roads are resurfaced repeatedly and to ensure that drainage arrangements are not affected.

Existing surface must be removed before relaying

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said engineers must assess the condition and levels of roads, their slope, drainage arrangements and the levels of adjoining properties before starting work.

The circular says repeated addition of fresh bitumen layers and the consequent raising of road levels must be avoided.

Engineers have been instructed to use mechanical milling machines to remove the existing bituminous surface before laying a new layer.

The depth of material removed should generally be equivalent to the thickness of the new bitumen layer.

They must check and record both the depth and quantity of the material removed before the road is relaid.

The milled surface must be cleared of dust, loose stones and debris before the new bitumen layer is laid.

Photographs of the milled surface must also be displayed at the work site.

Where machines cannot be used, especially along road edges and around trees and manholes, the existing surface must be removed manually or with suitable equipment.

Instructions follow department orders

The GCC circular followed a demonstration and a letter from Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, to the Additional Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, on October 6.

The circular was issued after subsequent instructions from the department.

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department had recently issued orders to improve over 500 km of bituminous, cement concrete and interlocking pavement roads under the Chief Minister’s Integrated Urban Development Mission (CMIUDM), 2026-2031.

A common condition in all three orders was that urban local bodies must carry out road relaying works “without raising the existing road levels.”

The orders also require manhole covers, utility chambers, footpaths and drains to be brought to the level of the finished road.

Photographs of the milled surface must be kept at the work site under these instructions as well.

Compliance required across Chennai

The instructions apply to all relevant bituminous road works across Chennai.

The GCC has asked engineers at all levels, contractors and project management consultants to ensure compliance.

The requirements link the removal of the old surface, verification of the material removed and adjustment of adjoining road-related structures to the final road level.

Source: The Hindu