Latest news with #ChennaiMetropolitanDevelopmentAuthority
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
CMDA plans two sponge parks in Chennai
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is planning to develop sponge parks at Chennai Corporation Park in Thoraipakkam and Elango Nagar playground in Padi at a total cost of ₹9.45 crore to manage rainwater, recharge groundwater, and reduce flooding. This plan follows the Tamil Nadu Budget for 2025–26, in which Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced that seven climate-resilient sponge parks would be established across the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) at an estimated cost of ₹88 crore. The identified sites at Thoraipakkam and Padi fall under the Greater Chennai Corporation. Necessary administrative approvals were obtained to enable CMDA to take up the work, officials said. The existing structure of the parks would be retrofitted under the sponge park model. Each sponge park will include a central pond-like structure about three feet deep, designed to store rainwater collected through an underground pipe network. Once the surrounding groundwater table reaches saturation, excess rainwater will be directed into the stormwater drainage system. The sponge parks are useful in urban areas experiencing groundwater depletion and can contribute to long-term water resilience and climate adaptation in the city, the officials said.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Soon, wait in AC bus shelters at four locations
Chennai: Weary commuters will get air-conditioned bus shelters at four locations in the city: Kolathur, Royapuram, Wall Tax Road, and Perambur. Tenders have been floated by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)to execute the 8 crore project. Announced during the Budget session of the state assembly, the shelters will have 78 seats each at Kolathur, Royapuram, and Wall Tax Road, and 54 seats at Perambur. Toilets for men and women and a borewell for water supply will also be provided. The built-up area ranges from 1,265sqft. at Perambur to 1,754sqft. at the other three locations. CMDA has set a four-month timeline for completion from the date of handing over the site to the contractor. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "With Chennai's summers, air-conditioned bus stops will significantly improve the daily experience for commuters. When public spaces are thoughtfully designed, people are more likely to use public transport. This will have a big impact on sustainable mobility," said a senior CMDA official. While the move has drawn praise, commuters say it's incomplete without restoring air-conditioned bus services. "I take the bus to Royapuram every day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo An AC shelter is welcome, but we hardly see AC buses anymore. Earlier, services ran from Perambur to Besant Nagar, Avadi to Tambaram — even from Central to Thiruvanmiyur. The city needs them back," said Uday Kumar, a commuter. "The key challenge will be maintenance. Without proper upkeep and commuter discipline the facilities may not last. The city's first air-conditioned bus stop in Asargana, opposite Alandur Metro station, is now defunct. It was opened to the public in 2015 and was built for 1.25 crore," said M Somasundaram, member of a voluntary consumer group for MTC.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
George Town redevelopment plan of CMDA on hold
The George Town Local Area Plan (LAP), launched by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut), has reportedly hit a roadblock due to land acquisition hurdles, according to official sources. 'The concept of a Local Area Plan is similar to urban renewal,' said K. P. Subramanian, retired Professor of Urban Engineering, Anna University. 'George Town is an ideal candidate due to its narrow roads, out-dated land use pattern, inadequate basic amenities, and non-high- buildings not commensurating with the increasing land value. But current status of this plan is unknown,' he added. The LAP was proposed to ease congestion, structural dilapidation, outdated land use patterns, narrow streets, and inadequate infrastructure. When asked about the current status, senior authorities with the State government said that there has been resistance from long-term residents and traders to redeveloping George Town — one of Chennai's oldest and densest quarters — and that there may be a need for another round of consultations. Notably, initial talks with locals were held in 2022. Documents on the CMDA website show that the LAP was conceived as early as 2006. Minutes of the 215th and 217th CMDA Authority Meetings, both held in 2006 show there was progress — including consultations with stakeholder groups such as the Gunny Bag Merchants Association and iron and steel goods traders — and allocation of funds, though without specifying how much, from the Planning and Development Fund to support LAP preparation. A Terms of Reference (ToR) document dated December 13, 2023 detailed the methodology, scope, and deliverables for in-house preparation of LAPs, aimed at improving land use, infrastructure, and urban form in high-pressure zones. As per this ToR, LAP project was to begin with a GIS-based base map, followed by field surveys on land use, building conditions, infrastructure, and transport. A vision statement was to be developed through stakeholder consultations, leading to proposals on zoning, roads, infrastructure, mobility, and open spaces, along with cost estimates and an implementation strategy. The focus on this project emerged after the CMDA initiated consultations to redevelop 12 kilometers of Anna Salai and 10 kilometers of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) under an LAP project. According to a document shared by the CMDA, the LAP will focus on a 12.5-kilometre stretch between Omandurar Government Estate Junction and Kathipara Junction along Anna Salai and a 10 km stretch from SRP Tools Junction to Sholinganallur along OMR.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chennai's third master plan to drive vertical growth, housing, and civic upgrades, ETInfra
Advt Advt Soon, residents can look forward to living closer to work, more housing options, and better civic infrastructure . CMDA's upcoming third master plan is considering a higher FSI in key zones, mixed-use development , and phased upgrades to support compact, vertical growth across the city. Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is preparing the third master plan (TMP) for the 1,189 sq km of Chennai Metropolitan Area. To reshape Chennai's skyline, the plan proposes higher FSI in targeted zones such as metro corridors, entertainment zones, commercial centres, and industrial belts to boost vertical growth."We need to make better use of city space — increasing FSI near metros, malls, green zones, and industrial areas in a planned manner, rather than blindly, will help more people live closer to work and transport, while making the most of existing infrastructure," said a CMDA CMDA is also planning to improve underground amenities to support vertical growth. "We understand that increasing FSI without adequate infrastructure upgrades — particularly underground sewage, water supply, and roads — could strain already overstretched civic services. We recommend phasing utilities based on carrying capacity," the official critical aspect is the integration of slum communities into the urban framework. With an estimated 40 per cent of the city's population living in informal settlements, experts say the master plan must go beyond relocation and focus on in-situ redevelopment."This includes scaling up FSI in legally recognised slum areas, providing employment linkages, and creating essential social infrastructure. We are not doing justice if we don't take care of their needs," the official added. "Relocating them far away breaks their social fabric and denies them dignity."There is also a demand to rethink land use strategies. Planners say Chennai needs a more practical and flexible land use map that reduces agricultural zoning and increases mixed-use zones to reflect evolving urban patterns. Such flexibility would ease the burden of land use change processes, which are currently mired in bureaucracy.K P Subramanian, urban planner, said that flexible land use zoning is a welcome move. "The second master plan has more than 10 land use zones, making the plan rigid. It may be reduced to a few such as urbanisable, conservation, and hazardous to make the master plan development-friendly," he added that a cautious approach is required to increase FSI. It calls for a detailed study to match the infrastructure. "The objective of the first and the second master plans was to decentralise the CBD and the city, and the plans proposed six urban nodes and four new towns to achieve the objective. That strategy is valid even today and can be pursued. Another critical issue is the inter-institutional coordination. The onus to make other functional agencies have a sense of ownership for the master plan lies with CMDA," he minister P K Sekarbabu said that the master plan will be rolled out on time.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
City to grow taller under CMDA's third master plan
Chennai: Soon, residents can look forward to living closer to work, more housing options, and better civic infrastructure. CMDA's upcoming third master plan is considering a higher FSI in key zones, mixed-use development, and phased upgrades to support compact, vertical growth across the city. Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is preparing the third master plan (TMP) for the 1,189 sq km of Chennai Metropolitan Area. To reshape Chennai's skyline, the plan proposes higher FSI in targeted zones such as metro corridors, entertainment zones, commercial centres, and industrial belts to boost vertical growth. "We need to make better use of city space — increasing FSI near metros, malls, green zones, and industrial areas in a planned manner, rather than blindly, will help more people live closer to work and transport, while making the most of existing infrastructure," said a CMDA official. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Meanwhile, CMDA is also planning to improve underground amenities to support vertical growth. "We understand that increasing FSI without adequate infrastructure upgrades — particularly underground sewage, water supply, and roads — could strain already overstretched civic services. We recommend phasing utilities based on carrying capacity," the official said. Another critical aspect is the integration of slum communities into the urban framework. With an estimated 40% of the city's population living in informal settlements, experts say the master plan must go beyond relocation and focus on in-situ redevelopment. "This includes scaling up FSI in legally recognised slum areas, providing employment linkages, and creating essential social infrastructure. We are not doing justice if we don't take care of their needs," the official added. "Relocating them far away breaks their social fabric and denies them dignity." There is also a demand to rethink land use strategies. Planners say Chennai needs a more practical and flexible land use map that reduces agricultural zoning and increases mixed-use zones to reflect evolving urban patterns. Such flexibility would ease the burden of land use change processes, which are currently mired in bureaucracy. K P Subramanian, urban planner, said that flexible land use zoning is a welcome move. "The second master plan has more than 10 land use zones, making the plan rigid. It may be reduced to a few such as urbanisable, conservation, and hazardous to make the master plan development-friendly," he said. He added that a cautious approach is required to increase FSI. It calls for a detailed study to match the infrastructure. "The objective of the first and the second master plans was to decentralize the CBD and the city, and the plans proposed six urban nodes and four new towns to achieve the objective. That strategy is valid even today and can be pursued. Another critical issue is the inter-institutional coordination. The onus to make other functional agencies have a sense of ownership for the master plan lies with CMDA," he added. CMDA minister P K Sekarbabu said that the master plan will be rolled out on time.
