Construction Phases
Originally known as Cochrane's canal, the first segment of the canal was constructed as a saltwater navigation canal in 1806, from Madras North to Ennore for a distance of 11 miles. It was financed by Basil Cochrane. Subsequently, it was extended north to Pulicat Lake, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) north of Madras. The canal was taken over by the government of Madras Presidency in 1837 and further extended, ultimately reaching 315 kilometres (195.7 mi) north of Madras to Vijayawada on the bank of Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh, and 103 kilometres (64.0 mi) south of Chennai to Marakkanam in Tamil Nadu. When the canal was opened, it was named Lord Clive's Canal and later as Buckingham Canal. However, the section in Madras had been known as Cochrane's canal for much of the 19th century.
During 1877 and 1878 the people of Madras suffered from the terrible Great Famine and more than 6 million people perished. The 8-kilometre (5.0 mi) stretch, linking the Adyar and Cooum rivers, was built in 1877-78 at a cost of Rs.3 millions as a famine relief work. The canal was named the Buckingham Canal in 1878 because the link, was built on the orders of the then Governor, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.
Read more about this topic: Buckingham Canal
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