originally known as cochrane's canal, the first segment of the canal was a saltwater navigation canal, constructed in 1806, from chennai north to ennore for a distance of . it was financed by basil cochrane. subsequently, it was extended north to pulicat lake, north of chennai. the canal was taken over by the government of madras presidency in 1837 and further extended, ultimately reaching north of chennai to gudivada kalava on the banks of the krishna river in andhra pradesh, and south of chennai to marakkanam in tamil nadu. when the canal was opened, it was named lord clive's canal and later buckingham canal. however, the section in chennai was known as cochrane's canal for much of the 19th century.