3 weeks ago
Third Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area Faces Year Delay
Chennai is a very big city in India where millions of people live.
City leaders make a big rule book called a master plan that decides where homes, roads, offices and parks can be built.
The new master plan will cover the years 2026 to 2046.
It was supposed to come out this year, but the release will be delayed.
The government wants to add new rules that let buildings grow taller.
Taller buildings help the city grow upward instead of spreading out, which has destroyed lakes and farmland.
The new plan will also protect water bodies and make the city ready for climate change.
The government hopes Chennai can grow while keeping its nature safe.
The third master plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) is expected to be released at least a year late as the new government wants to add new building guidelines.
The plan, covering the period 2026 to 2046, will serve as Chennai's blueprint for growth, land use and infrastructure, replacing the second master plan.
The plan shifts toward vertical growth in designated areas, reversing the policy from four decades ago that discouraged vertical development.
CMA spans 1,189 sq km and had a population of nearly 8.65 million in 2011, India's fourth largest urban agglomeration after Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
The plan aims to protect water bodies, provide green buffers, and concentrate commercial hubs along transit routes to reduce pollution.
- Who
- The new state government, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), and international town planning experts reviewing the draft.
- What
- The release of the third master plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area is delayed so new guidelines for vertical growth and climate-resilient buildings can be added.
- Where
- Chennai Metropolitan Area, covering the entire Chennai district and parts of Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts in India.
- When
- The plan was expected to be released this year, ahead of its 2026 timeline; the release is now delayed by at least a year.
- Why
- The new government wants guidelines that facilitate vertical growth and help buildings withstand climate change impact.
Key facts
- Plan
- Third Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area (2026-2046)
- Expected Delay
- At least one year
- CMA Area
- 1,189 sq km
- CMA Population (2011)
- Nearly 8.65 million
- Projected CMA Population (2035)
- 14.8 million
- Ranking
- Fourth largest urban agglomeration in India
- Chennai Corporation Population (2011)
- Nearly 4.65 million in 176 sq km
- Revised Chennai City Area (2011)
- 426 sq km with about 6.6 million people
Sources
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