
Food courts to come up on plots that have gone cold
Chennai: In the next year, the city will turn unused corners into places people flock to for food. The
Greater Chennai Corporation
(GCC) is working on a plan to convert vacant land and underused municipal buildings in busy parts of the city into food courts.
These spaces, until now ignored, will soon see crowds, kitchens, and the smell of fresh food in the air.
In the first phase, GCC picked three sites: the land next to the Ripon Buildings on Sydenhams Road, a plot on Indira Nagar 3rd Avenue, and a stretch near the Alandur metro parking lot. All three spots lie unused today. GCC plans to turn them into clean, affordable food courts with a range of popular cuisines.
"We are doing this based on the model CMRL adopted near Ashok Nagar metro station," said M Birathiviraj, deputy commissioner (revenue and finance).
"We'll build the shell structures with essential facilities such as parking and basic amenities, and then lease them out to vendors or food chains."
To get things moving, GCC has floated a tender to hire a consultant who will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The consultant's scope will include topographical and geotechnical surveys, architectural and structural designs, 3D visualisations, and preparation of tender and construction-ready documents.
The DPR is expected to be ready in the next few months. Once it is done, GCC will float tenders for construction. Officials plan to expand the model in phases and are scouting more empty land and unused shopping complexes across the city.
"These are not just food courts," a senior GCC official said. "We are creating well-planned, lively public spaces while monetizing municipal assets."
Gandharv Dhingra, CEO of Roll Baby Roll and chapter head of NRAI Chennai, said, "When brands come together in high-footfall zones, it benefits the entire community — bringing hygienic,
affordable food options
, steady revenue for the exchequer, and catalysing real estate development.
It's not just about food; it's about developing the area holistically."
Satish Galley, a civic activist, said, "A well-planned food court in the neighbourhood with proper sanitation, waste management, and crowd control is needed. Many public spaces are now converted to dumpyards or a hangout space for troublemakers. We hope the voices of local residents will be considered in the planning process."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
IT firms double down on GCC expansion to tap growing opportunity
BENGALURU: Many Indian IT services firms have now started focusing on Global Capability Centres (GCC) by appointing a separate head to lead and expand the company's GCC capabilities. After Infosys and Wipro, HCLTech recently announced the appointment of Kiran Cherukuri as Global GCC Practice Leader. HCLTech plans to double down on this fast-growing segment with a sharp focus on India. "The GCC's build, operate and transfer (BOT) market is one of the few fast-growing sectors in an otherwise slow market. Firms are increasing their investments to capture their share of this attractive market and as they increase their focus and investments, they are appointing new leadership," Peter Bendor-Samuel, Founder and Executive Chairman of Everest Group told TNIE. He added that as Accenture and other industry leaders announce significant wins in GCCs, it has become obvious to all that they must increase investment and put some of their stars into competing in this space. Last year, Accenture made an equity investment in GCC platform ANSR. Though the company did not disclose the investment amount, it is said that Accenture will be investing close to USD 170 million. According to Everest Group, GCCs account for about USD 13 billion of revenue to IT services companies across various engagement models, including setups, transformation, and operational support and that the GCC in India is a $65 billion market and has been growing at 8%. Experts anticipate that this market will accelerate to double-digit growth.


The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Chennai Corporation survey shows a rise in number of homeless persons
The number of homeless persons in the city has crossed 13,000, with the Central Business District of George Town in Royapuram Zone of the Chennai Corporation accounting for the most number of homeless people. The Chennai Corporation conducted a survey of the homeless in January, and found an increase in the number of persons without decent housing, when compared to the previous surveys that reported around 11,000 homeless individuals in the city. This has been attributed to an increasing number of people migrating from other districts and States in search of economic opportunities over the past few years. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) found that the number of homeless individuals, which was 9623 by mid-February, had crossed 13,000 by the end of the survey in May. Ward 57 Councillor Rajesh Jain said: 'People from States such as Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have come to my ward in Royapuram zone in search of jobs, and some of them have been homeless. The number of homeless women is higher than that of men in several parts of my ward. Many people have come to Chennai in search of jobs from other districts also.' Pointing to the rise in the number of homeless persons on stretches such as Wall Tax Road and Prakasam Salai, Mr. Jain said they had started demanding housing facilities. 'We do not know the actual reason for the rise in the number of persons migrating to the city from other States. We have to verify whether it is due to failed agriculture in their native villages. We have taken measures to help them. Around 10% of the homeless children do not go to school. The GCC has two schools in the ward to provide free education for the children,' he said. Ward 56 Councillor V. Parimalam said efforts were being taken to persuade homeless children to go to school, pointing to the installation of smart classrooms in Chennai Corporation schools. They also face other challenges. R. Manikandan, who was identified as a homeless resident of Royapettah during the survey in January, had to move out of the area he used to live in due to the implementation of infrastructure projects by civic agencies. Though he rented a house in May, he has not been able to pay the rent of ₹3500 this month. G. Selva, CPI(M) district secretary, said there was an increase in the number of wage labourers without shelters in the city. 'They work hard. The government should ensure the dignity of such individuals.' An official of the Chennai Corporation said a number of homeless individuals, who were identified in the survey, did not have Aadhaar and ration cards. 'We will facilitate the issuance of ration cards for those who are yet to get one,' the official said.


The Wire
7 hours ago
- The Wire
First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Deepens Investment in India with Expansion of Global Capability Centre
June 09, 2025, Bengaluru – First Citizens India, a subsidiary of parent company First Citizens BancShares, Inc., today announced that it has expanded its operational capacity with the opening of a new office in Bengaluru—reinforcing India's role as a premier hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) delivering enterprise-wide solutions. First Citizens Bank is one of the top 20 banks in the United States, with more than $200 billion in assets and over 17,000 associates worldwide. First Citizens' investment in its new facility recognizes India's role as a strategic destination for the bank. It's GCC, First Citizens India, plays a pivotal role supporting the company's operations. With expanded capacity and a collaborative design, the new workplace supports core areas including Technology, Enterprise Operations, Finance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, and Credit Administration. The expansion comes amid the bank's continued investment in digital transformation, operational resilience, and building talent to meet evolving client needs. Jeff Ward, Chief Strategy Officer, First Citizens Bank, who is visiting India in celebration of the new office opening, said, 'Our decision to expand our footprint in the established hub of Bengaluru allows us to strategically leverage the country's vast talent pool and directly support the long-term commitment to our enterprise vision.' More than a century old, publicly traded and a member of the Fortune 500 , First Citizens has established a legacy of strength and stability through consistent long-term thinking and disciplined risk management. First Citizens India extends that platform by leveraging the bank's relationship-based, client-centric approach within a high-performing, cross-functional environment. Satya Prakash Ranjan, Country Head & Head of Technology, First Citizens India, shared, 'As we continue to modernise and scale the bank's technology platforms, this facility and our local team give us the flexibility and environment needed to deliver enterprise-grade solutions across a variety of functions. We are hiring and welcome colleagues to help us deliver business solutions based on the bank's shared values of client-first service, a commitment to excellence, empathy, respect for differences, and forward-looking abilities.' This new facility enables teams to thrive in an advanced, digitally-enabled work environment that encourages cross-functional collaboration, continuous learning, and career development. First Citizens aims to build lasting financial security for its key stakeholders. The new Bengaluru office strengthens the bank's operational capabilities and underscores its commitment to supporting the ambitions of its clients, colleagues and communities. About First Citizens India First Citizens India, also known as FC Global Services India LLP, is a subsidiary of parent company First Citizens BancShares, Inc. First Citizens India is a global capability center (GCC) based in Bengaluru that benefits from First Citizens BancShares' legacy of strength and stability over the past 125 years. As an integral part of the First Citizens' Global Services division, First Citizens India is responsible for delivering value and managing risks for our lines of business. The key areas of operations in India include Technology, Enterprise Operations, Finance, Cybersecurity, Risk Management and Credit Administration. About First Citizens BancShares, Inc. First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA) is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets and a member of the Fortune 500 . Its primary banking subsidiary, First Citizens Bank, helps personal, business, commercial and wealth clients build financial strength that lasts. Discover more at (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.