The Vellore Corporation is fast-tracking its underground pipeline work on the service lane of Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 48) near Green Circle. This move aims to finish the project before Pongal 2026. The ongoing work has caused heavy traffic jams, especially during rush hours, affecting ambulances and school buses. "The pipeline work near Green Circle is key to connect new pipelines from streets to the new Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). This work is the major remaining underground pipeline work under the project. The entire work will be completed by Pongal 2026," said R. Lakshmanan, Commissioner of Vellore Corporation. Due to heavy traffic on the service lane, the pipeline work is carried out only between 11 p.m and 3 a.m. Unlike usual pipe work, these new pipes are laid at least nine metres deep because of an existing underground drain by NHAI. The work covers around 300 metres, which has delayed progress. Currently, a 650-metre bridge along the Palar River carries drainage from 32 wards, mainly from Old Town areas, to the new STP at Viruthampattu near Katpadi. This bridge stands 20 feet above the riverbed to prevent flooding during monsoon. The new STP has a 50 MLD capacity. The multi-crore project began in 2019 and includes sewer lines, pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants for all 60 wards with about eight lakh residents. So far, Vellore Corporation has repaired 534 out of 900 damaged road stretches caused by pipeline work, covering 52 km at a cost of ₹46 crore. Around 350 more stretches will be fixed soon, with the corporation seeking ₹25 crore from the state government. Currently, there are around 81,000 individual connections. Once drainage work finishes, users will be asked to connect their homes starting January. Most damaged roads will be re-laid by then.