Chennai:The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious plan to restore the Cooum and Adyar rivers to their natural state, proposing global tenders and detailed studies to transform the two polluted waterways into clean, accessible public spaces and a defining feature of Chennai’s urban landscape.

Presenting the 2026-27 revised budget, finance minister N. Marie Wilson said the government will invite global tenders and prepare a detailed feasibility report (DFR) and detailed project report (DPR) for rejuvenating the rivers, drawing inspiration from successful river restoration projects elsewhere in the world.

“The Government will strive with the utmost resolve to restore the Cooum and the Adyar to their natural state,” the minister said during the budget speech.

Acknowledging that the two rivers, which once served Chennai’s drinking water requirements, have deteriorated into sewage-carrying channels, he criticised previous governments’ attempts at cleaning and beautifying them, saying several hundred crores of rupees had been spent without bringing about meaningful improvement.

Citing the Cheonggyecheon river restoration in Seoul and Kallang in Singapore as examples, Wilson envisaged a future where residents could ply boats on the Cooum and Adyar, children play in their waters and people exercise along clean and pollution-free riverbanks.

The river restoration proposal forms part of a wider push to make Chennai more sustainable and disaster-resilient. The government announced blue-green infrastructure projects around water bodies in the city, including measures to improve their discharge capacity and mitigate urban flooding.

The budget also proposed strengthening Chennai’s long-term water security through the Rs.3,108-crore ring main pipeline system, connecting the city’s major drinking water sources with distribution stations. The project, expected to be completed by 2030-31, is aimed at ensuring reliable and equitable round-the-clock drinking water supply.

“This project will secure a reliable, equitable and round-the-clock drinking water supply across Chennai city,” the budget said, describing access to clean drinking water every day as a fundamental promise a great city makes to its residents.

In another major urban planning initiative, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is preparing the Third Master Plan (2027-2046) covering 1,189 sq. km. The government will also prepare a comprehensive master plan for the expanded Chennai Metropolitan Area, covering 5,904 sq. km, with an allocation of `25 crore.

An AI-enabled planning approval system called Speed (single platform for efficient expedited development) will also be introduced at a cost of `40 crore. It will integrate CMDA, the Directorate of Town and Country Planning and local bodies to facilitate faster and more transparent planning permissions across the state.

To strengthen climate resilience, the budget proposes blue-green infrastructure projects around water bodies across Chennai. The projects include raising the height of retaining walls, erecting chain-link fencing and enhancing water discharge capacity to reduce urban flooding while creating environmentally-sustainable public spaces.

The government also reaffirmed its commitment to improving Chennai’s water security through the ring main pipeline system, a project connecting all major drinking water sources with distribution stations across the city.

Being implemented at an estimated cost of `3,108 crore, the project is expected to be completed by 2030-31.

“This project will secure a reliable, equitable, and round-the-clock drinking water supply across Chennai city. This is the most fundamental promise every great city makes to its people: clean drinking water, without exception, every single day,” the budget stated.

The minister also announced that people-friendly streets will be developed in all municipal corporations with dedicated pedestrian pathways, cycling lanes, improved junctions, safe school access routes and LED street lighting.

The revised budget has allocated `29,863 crore to the municipal administration and water supply department.

The budget also announced a major push for road infrastructure, with `9,300 crore earmarked under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme for highway widening, bypasses, bridges, road safety works, pedestrian overbridges and improvements to riding quality.

A new Safe Roads Mission will be launched to improve road safety by leveraging Artificial Intelligence for speed and traffic enforcement, supported by dedicated highway patrols and advanced trauma care centres.

To improve the condition of deteriorating roads, the government has allocated `250 crore under a performance-based maintenance contract model. Residents will be able to report potholes and damaged roads through the ‘Namma Salai’ mobile application, enabling authorities to take up repairs promptly.

The revised budget allocates `21,524 crore to the highways and minor ports department.