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CHAPTER 3

STUDY AREA

3.1 INTRODUCTION

Among the largest urban areas in the World with a threshold

population of 500,000 and more listed by the United Nations (2014) based on

the estimated population for the year 2014, nine Indian cities (Table 3.1) find

place in the first 100 rankings. Chennai city, the fourth largest Metro city of

the country (Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu, 2011), along with

its urban agglomeration, occupies 33rd rank only next to Delhi (3rd), Mumbai

(13th) and Kolkatta (19th).

Chennai urban area finds 112th rank in the list of urban areas

categorized by developed land area (urban foot print). As per the study of

Demographia -World Urban Areas (World Agglomerations), 10th Annual

Edition, May 2014 Revision, Chennai occupies 112th position in the world on

the basis of the developed land area (with a population of 8.70 million during

2011, spreading over an area of 971 sq.km., with a population density of 9700

persons per sq.km.). On the same basis, Delhi ranks 37th with an area of 2072

sq.km., Kolkata ranks 89th with 1204 sq.km., Bangalore ranks 94th with 1140

sq.km., Hyderabad ranks 105th with 1062 sq.km., and Mumbai ranks 206th

with 546 sq.km. These facts show that the Indian urban areas contribute a

considerable proportion of urban areas in the world. Thus Chennai urban area

gains attention in terms of urban growth. The status of Chennai urban area in

the context of world urban growth is a promising gesture for vibrant

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developments not only within the city area and the area immediately after the

Chennai city, but also within the entire Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA).

Table 3.1 List of largest urban areas in the world based on estimated population during 2014

Sl.No. Rank Urban Area Base

Year

Population in Base Year

Estimate 2014

Population

1 1st Tokyo, Japan 2010 37,100,000 37,555,000

2 2nd Jakarta, Indonesia 2010 27,550,000 29,959,000

3 3rd Delhi, India 2011 22,250,000 24,134,000

4 4th Seoul, South Korea 2010 22,500,000 22,992,000

5 5th Manila, Philippines 2010 20,750,000 22,710,000

6 6th Shanghai, China 2012 21,550,000 22,650,000

7 7th Karachi, Pakistan 2011 19,530,000 21,585,000

8 8th New York, USA 2010 20,366,000 20,661,000

9 9th Mexico city, Mexico 2010 19,250,000 20,300,000

10 10th Sao Paulo, Brazil 2010 19,400,000 20,273,000

11 13th Mumbai, India 2011 16,600,000 17,672,000

12 19th Kolkata, India 2011 14,113,000 14,896,000

13 33rd Chennai, India 2011 8,696,000 9,435,000

14 34th Bangalore, India 2011 8,499,000 9,330,000

15 39th Hyderabad, India 2011 7,749,000 8,445,000

16 46th Ahmedabad, India 2011 6,352,000 6,930,000

17 68th Pune, India 2011 5,050,000 5,376,000

18 74th Surat, India 2011 4,585,000 4,897,000 Source: United Nations 2014

This chapter discusses in brief the location, origin and historical

background of Chennai City and its surroundings in the first section. The

factual information on the CMA such as the demographic profile, land use

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existed from the year 1973 to 2012, the transportation network in the area,

physical constraints for development and the plans and policies which had

shaped the development are dealt in detail in the rest of the sections.

3.1.1 Location

Chennai, the administrative capital of the State of Tamil Nadu in

India, is located at 13°08' N latitude and 80°19' E longitude. It lies along the

coast of Bay of Bengal and holds the pride in having the world’s second

longest sea shore, the Marina beach. Figure 3.1 depicts the location of CMA

and Chennai City in the State of Tamil Nadu, India. It has the locational

advantage of being a port city which handles both passenger and goods

transport.

Figure 3.1 Locations of Chennai City and Chennai Metropolitan Area Source: Maps of India, Second Master Plan for CMA (2008)

and Corporation of Chennai

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3.1.2 Jurisdiction of Chennai City and Chennai Metropolitan Area

Chennai was originally known as ‘Madras’. Consequent to the

official change of name of the Madras city into ‘Chennai’ during 1996, the

MMA came to be known as the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) and the

MMDA came to be known as the Chennai Metropolitan Development

Authority (CMDA).

Originally, the area covered by Chennai City Corporation, 16

Municipalities, 20 Town Panchayats (TP), and 10 Panchayat Unions

containing 214 villages constituted the CMA. The total extent of CMA is

1189 sq.km. The extents of Chennai city and the rest of CMA were 176

sq.km., and 1013 sq.km., respectively. The Chennai Urban Agglomeration

(CUA) including Chennai City extends over 633 sq.km., consisting of

Chennai City Corporation, 14 Municipalities, 20 Town Panchayats, and 21

Village Panchayats (Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu 2001).

The Government of Tamil Nadu, in G.O. (Ms.) No. 256, Municipal

Administration and Water Supply Department, dated 26.12.2009, permitted

the expansion of Chennai City Limit annexing 9 Municipalities, 8 Town

Panchayats and 25 villages. Accordingly, the extent of Chennai City and rest

of CMA are 421.65 sq.km., and 767.35 sq.km., respectively and the CMA is

constituted of Chennai City Corporation, 8 Municipalities, 11 Town

Panchayats and 189 villages in 10 Panchayat Unions. However the new

jurisdictions came into force with effect from the year 2012. The earlier and

present administrative boundaries of Chennai City and Chennai Metropolitan

Area are shown in Figure 3.2. The research was started well before the actual

enforcement of the extension of Chennai City boundary. Further the

population details are available for the Census year 2011, pertaining to the

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erstwhile Chennai City area and the CUA. Therefore the research considers

the Chennai City, CUA and rest of CMA as existed prior to the extension of

Chennai City boundary.

Figure 3.2 Administrative boundaries of Chennai City and Chennai Metropolitan Area

Source: Second Master Plan for CMA (2008) and Corporation of Chennai (<www.chennaicorporation.gov.in> [11.09.2013])

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3.1.3 Transportation Network

The transportation network, both road and rail, resemble a radial

pattern originating from the core area of the city. In addition to the radial

pattern of roads, circular corridors like Inner Ring Road (IRR) and Chennai

Bye Pass Road serve for the interconnection of radial routes. Figure 3.3

portrays the transportation network of CMA.

3.1.3.1 Road network

Four major radial corridors traverse the CMA providing inter-

district and inter-state transport network. They are:

Grand Northern Trunk Road (GNT Road - NH 5) Chennai –

Kolkatta National Highway

Grand Western Trunk Road (GWT Road - NH 4) Chennai –

Bangalore National Highway

Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST Road - NH 45) Chennai –

Trichy National Highway

Chennai Thiruvallur High Road (CTH Road – NH 205).

Besides the above four National Highways, there are other major

roads in CMA where developments are concentrated viz., Thiruvottiyur High

Road, Thiruvottiyur Ponneri Panchetti Road (TPP Road), Kundrathur Road,

Poonamallee Bye Pass Road, Tambaram Velachery Road, MMRD Road,

Kelambakkam Road, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR-Rajiv Gandhi Salai IT

Corridor) and East Coast Road (ECR). The circular corridors include the

Inner Ring Road (Jawaharlal Nehru Salai) and the Chennai Bye Pass Road.

The Outer Ring Road is under construction.

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Figure 3.3 Transportation Network of Chennai Metropolitan Area Source: Second Master Plan for CMA (2008)

3.1.3.2 Rail network

Railway network for both inter-city movement and suburban

commuter transport is available in CMA. The three inter-city lines are:

(i) North Line - Chennai Central - Gummidipoondi- Nellore

(ii) South Line - Chennai Beach - Tambaram - Chengalpattu -

Villupuram)

(iii) West Line - Chennai Central -Thiruvallur -Arakkonam.

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There are exclusive suburban lines except in the Chennai Central –

Gummidipoondi line which takes up both the inter city and sub urban rail

movement.

3.1.3.3 Problems in the transportation network

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (2008) highlights the

following problems in the transportation network:

Poor quality of riding surface

Inadequate, shrunken and encroached footpaths

Lack of properly designed intersections

Poor lighting conditions

Missing links in the road network

Mismatch between the growth rate of vehicles and road supply

Poor drainage system compounded by frequent cutting open of

carriageways and footpaths for attending to utility / service lines

repair thereby substantially reducing the effective availability of

road space / footpath

The capacity of Chennai Beach – Tambaram rail line is

especially restricted by the presence of a number of road / rail

level crossings. Both the Chennai Beach – Tambaram and the

Chennai Central – Gummidipoondi rail corridors witness

overcrowding of trains during peak hours.

3.1.4 Preparation of Master Plans for Chennai Metropolitan Area

In the past, there were only detailed Town Planning Schemes for

some parts of the Chennai City and a small fraction of the rest of the

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Metropolitan Area. The need for a comprehensive plan to bring about

generalized control of land and building use throughout the Madras

Metropolitan Area (MMA) by means of Development Control Rules, the

Madras Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) was constituted as an

ad hoc body in the year 1973 under section 9-C, Chapter - II A of the Tamil

Nadu Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1973 for preparing the

Master Plan for the Madras Metropolitan Area under the provisions of the

Town and Country Planning Act, 1971. Later MMDA became a statutory

body (Tamil Nadu Act No. 22 of 1974). The Government of Tamil Nadu in

G.O. Ms. No. 1313, Rural Development and Local Administration

Department, dated 01.08.1975 consented to the publication of a notice of the

preparation of a Master Plan for the Madras Metropolitan Area.

The draft master plan for MMA consented by Government was

notified in Gazette on 5.08.75 and from that date developments are regulated

with reference to Master Plan / Development Control Rules. The first Master

Plan was finally approved by the Government in G.O. Ms. No. 2395, Rural

Development and Local Administration Department, dated 4.12.76.

The Second Master Plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2008

was approved by the Government in G.O. Ms. No. 190, Housing and Urban

Development Department, dated 02.09.2008, and notified in the Tamil Nadu

Government Gazette Extraordinary No.266, Part II-Section 2, dated

02.09.2008. The Development Regulations framed under the Second Master

Plan govern the land use changes in the CMA.

3.2 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

More than 48% of the total population (48.4 % as per Census of

Tamil Nadu, 2011) in the state lives in urban areas. This has grown from

27.16% during 1991-2001. The percentage share of Chennai city alone

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towards the contribution for urban population is 13.40 %. CMA forms even

less than 1% of the total extent (0.914%) of the Tamil Nadu state but

accommodate over 11% of the total population of the state. The demographic

profile of the CMA, Chennai Urban Agglomeration and Chennai city (along

with those of the State of Tamil Nadu for easy comparison) is given in Table

3.2. The demographic profile in respect of 1991-2001 as well as 2001-2011

are studied in detail in this chapter. The case study areas are selected based on

the 1991-2001 data before the publishing of the Primary Census Abstract

2011 during 2013.

3.2.1 Population Size

From Table 3.2, it is observed that the rate of decadal population

growth over the past four decades follow a decreasing trend in the State,

Chennai city, CUA and CMA as well. However, CMA is experiencing higher

decadal growth rates since 1981-91 compared to the Chennai city area and

Chennai Urban Agglomeration. The population of Chennai city during the

year 2011 is 4.68 million and it had grown from 4.34 million during 2001.

The population size of the CUA has also increased from 6.42 million to 8.70

million during 2001-2011. The rate of growth of population of CUA has

recorded an increase of about 18% during 2001-2011, though it was showing

a decreasing trend in the past decades.

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Table 3.2 Growth of population and population density in Tamil Nadu, Chennai City, Chennai Urban Agglomeration and Chennai Metropolitan Area during 1961-2011

Description /Year 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

Tamil Nadu Population (in million) 33.687 41.199 48.408 55.859 62.406 72.147

Extent (in 1000 sq. km.) 130.07 130.07 130.05 130.05 130.05 130.05

Density (persons per sq.km.) 259 317 372 430 480 555

Decadal growth … 22.30 % 17.50 % 15.39 % 11.72 % 15.60 %Chennai city

Population (in million) 1.749 2.469 3.276 3.843 4.343 4.646

Extent (sq. km.) 128.83 128.83 176.00 176.00 176.00 176.00Density (persons per sq.km.) 13576 19168 18617 21836 24680 26402

Decadal growth … 41.19 % 32.69 % 17.29 % 13.02 % 7.00%Chennai Urban Agglomeration

Population (in million) 1.944 3.169 4.289 5.421 6.424 8.696

Decadal growth … 63.02 % 35.31 % 26.41 % 18.49 % 35.37 %Chennai Metropolitan Area (including Chennai City)

Population (in million) … 3.506 4.602 5.818 7.041 8.950

Extent (sq. km.) … 1189.00 1189.00 1189.00 1189.00 1189.00Density (persons per sq.km.) … 2948 3870 4894 5921 7528

Decadal growth … … 31.27 % 26.45 % 21.00 % 27.11 %Rest of Chennai Metropolitan Area (excluding Chennai City)

Population (in million) … 1.037 1.326 1.975 2.698 4.304

Extent (sq. km.) … 1060.17 1013.00 1013.00 1013.00 1013.00Density (persons per sq. km.) 978 1309 1950 2663 4248

Decadal growth … … 27.87 % 48.94 % 36.61 % 59.52 %Source: Compiled from Census of Tamil Nadu (1961-2011), Second Master Plan

for CMA-2026 (2008) and websites <http://www.thaibicindia.org.in/study/ tamilnadu/Demographic>[14.08.2010] and <http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/ Urban-Report.pdf> [14.08.2010].

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The population of CMA has risen from 7.041 million during 2001

to 8.95 million in 2011. CMA forms even less than 1% of the total extent

(0.914%) of the Tamil Nadu state but accommodate over 11% of the total

population of the state. This proportion has steadily increased as 8.51%,

9.51% and 10.42% during the years 1971, 1981 and 1991 respectively.

Further the rest of CMA had a share of about 38% population in the CMA

during 2001. During 2011, the population of rest of CMA was about 50% of

the total population in CMA. Consequently, the rate of growth of population

of Chennai City area keeps decreasing every decade. This indicates that the

growth of core city has stabilized and only redevelopment with densification

happens within it and that the areas/villages present immediately following

the city boundary experience much growth than the core city. Further, the

density in the CMA was as less as 59 persons per hectare as per 2001

population size which indicates huge scope for accommodating higher

population density as against the already denser (247 persons per hectare)

Chennai city. The Second Master Plan for CMA, 2026 has projected the

population of CMA to reach 8.871 million in the year 2011, 11.197 million in

2021 and 12.582 million in 2026.

During 2001, among the 16 municipalities, 6 of them had

populations over one lakh. The maximum population of 310967 was recorded

in Ambattur Municipality which lies along CTH Road in the western part of

CMA. The least population of 28597 was recorded in Manali Municipality

along the Inner Ring Road (IRR) in the northern CMA. Among the 20 Town

Panchayats in CMA, Thiruninravur which lies along the Chennai –

Thiruvallur High Road (CTH Road- National Highway 205) had recorded the

highest population of 29332, followed by Porur (28924) along the Arcot

Road, Chitlapakkam (25314) along GST Road, Kundrathur (25007) and

Minjur (23742) along Thiruvottiyur-Ponneri-Panchetty Road (TPP Road).

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The lowest population was recorded in Minambakkam (3609) which is a

cantonment area along GST Road.

In the year 2011, with the inclusion of Madhavaram Municipality

with over 1 lakh population, out of the 16 Municipalities, 7 of them had over

1 lakh population. During the 2001-2011 decade also, the maximum

population was recorded in Ambattur (466205) and the minimum was

recorded in Manali (35248). Among the Town Panchayats, the maximum

population was recorded in Kundrathur (54986) and the least population was

recorded in Meenambakkam (7070).

3.3 LAND USE CHANGES IN CMA

As detailed out in section 3.1.4, the land use changes in CMA were

earlier controlled by the Development Control Rules under the Master Plan

for the Madras Metropolitan Area, 1975 (called as the First Master Plan) and

are now regulated by the Development Regulations under the Second Master

Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2008, with effect from 02.09.2008.

As seen from Table 3.2, the extent of the rest of CMA during the

year 1971 was 1060.17 sq.km., and during the years 1981, 2001 and 2011 it

was 1013.00 sq.km. However these extents differ in the Master Plans for

CMA. They are 1041.18 sq.km., 1046.05 sq.km., 1045.84 sq.km., and

1012.98 sq.km., during the years 1991, 2001, 2006 and 2026 (for the

proposed land use plan) respectively. For the convenience of comparison of

the available land use maps showing the land uses that existed during

different time periods, the extents given in the Master Plans are followed.

After the expansion of the Chennai City area during the year 2012

from 176 sq.km., to about 421.65 sq.km., the extent of rest of CMA has

reduced to 767.35 sq.km. This research confines the land use changes and

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population details to the year 2011 in line with the Census year. The land use

maps of CMA for the years 1973, 1980, 1991 and 2006 are shown in Figures

3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 respectively. However, the land use break-up details are

available only for the years 1964, 2001 and 2006.

3.3.1 Land use 1964

The land uses in CMA that existed during the year 1964 were taken

as the basis for the preparation of the proposed land use plan for the year 1991

in the First Master Plan. The break-up details of the land uses in rest of MMA

during 1964 are given in Table 3.3. The area under residential use was

predominant with about one fifth of the developed area only next to the

vacant area which was close to one third of the developed area. About 15% of

the developed area was under industrial use, mainly concentrated in the

northern and western part of the CMA.

Table 3.3 Land use break-up in rest of Madras Metropolitan Area, 1964

Sl.No. Land Use Extent in

hectares Percentage to

developed areai Residential 3318.4 19.6ii Commercial 122.0 *iii Industrial 2502.0 14.8iv Public and Semi-public 1969.6 11.6v Open spaces 1194.4 7.1vi Utility & Services 53.6 *vii Transport & Communication 2890.8 17.1viii Vacant 4888.0 28.90ix Non-urban uses (including area

under agriculture, streams and water bodies)

87180.0 …

Note: * These uses constitute less than 1 percent of the developed area

Source: Madras Metropolitan Development Authority 1975.

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3.3.2 Land use 1973

The land use in CMA during the year 1973 as seen from Figure 3.4

indicates a predominantly agricultural based land use throughout the CMA

with sporadic residential use, mainly concentrated along the major

transportation corridors. Lots of water bodies are seen all through the CMA.

The areas under the Chennai Airport and Tambaram Air Force Station are the

major contributors towards institutional use. Similarly, the Avadi Heavy

Vehicles Factory (HVF), Ambattur Industrial Estate, industries in Manali and

Ennore are the major contributors of industrial use. A sizeable parcel of land

in the extreme north eastern side and south eastern side were used for salt

pans.

3.3.3 Land use 1980

The land use in CMA during the year 1980 (Figure 3.5) also

indicates a predominantly agricultural based land use throughout the CMA.

The residential use had significantly increased in the southern and western

parts of CMA. Also the industrial use had spread along the Old

Mahabalipuram Road at Perungudi with the formation of Industrial Estate

with developed plots during the year 1976-77 (Directorate of Industries and

Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu <http://www.indcom.tn.gov.in/

elec_industrial_estate.htm>. [10.01.2013]).

3.3.4 Land use 1991

There was tremendous growth in residential use during this period

all through the CMA (Figure 3.6) and consequent to this the agricultural land

use had reduced considerably. The residential use was spread along the

boundary of the city and along the major transportation corridors in the

western and southern parts of CMA viz., the CTH Road, Bangalore Highway

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(NH 4), GST Road, OMR and ECR, with an infilling effect between these

corridors. Also, the residential developments were spread in the northern

CMA along the GNT Road and TPP Road.

Figure 3.4 Land Use of Chennai Metropolitan Area-1973 Source: CMDA 2008.

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Figure 3.5 Land Use of Chennai Metropolitan Area-1980 Source: CMDA 2008.

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Figure 3.6 Land Use of Chennai Metropolitan Area-1991 Source: CMDA 2008.

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3.3.5 Land use 2006

The agricultural use had vanished to a great extent throughout the

CMA during 2006 (Figure 3.7). Large parcels of land in the northern CMA

were lying vacant. Many of the small water bodies had also vanished. During

this period, with the advent of Information Technology Policy by the

Government of Tamil Nadu, several incentives were extended for Information

Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES)

projects. The Old Mahabalipuram Road was declared as IT Corridor

improving the accessibility and permitting IT & ITES uses on either side of

the IT corridor for a width of 500m. Declaration of IT corridor, extension of

concessions / incentives and special provision for permitting multistoreyed

buildings for IT and ITES purposes throughout CMA resulted in setting up of

several IT Parks and ITES developments in CMA.

3.3.6 Comparative Analysis of Land uses since 1971

The breakup of the land use under each category that was proposed

for the year 1991 in the First Master Plan and those existed during the years

2001 and 2006 are given in Table 3.4. Though there is no separate split up for

agricultural use in the year 1964, it is a separate category in all other years.

Similarly, the land use breakup as existed in the year 1991 is not available for

making comparison with the proposed land use in the First Master Plan for

CMA. However, it is seen from the land use existed during the year 2001 that

there is vast gap between the proposed land use and the one achieved. The

main reason for this mismatch is that though the decadal rate of growth of

population of the rest of CMA area had increased from the year 1971 to 1991

(Table 3.2) when the State, Chennai City, CUA and whole of CMA

experienced decreasing trend, the population density in rest of CMA had also

increased considerably. The villages underwent considerable densification in

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the years 1971-2011 which is discussed in detail in the following chapter.

Thus there was rather a densification process than a spatial growth.

At the same time, there is significant increase in the residential,

industrial and institutional land uses during 2001-2006. There is an increase

of about 20 sq.km., of residential use (1.92%), 1.44 sq.km., of industrial use

(0.14%) and 2.68 sq.km., of institutional use (0.26%) over a period of five

years.

Figure 3.8 shows the proposed land use for the year 2026 in the

Second Master Plan for CMA-2026 (2008). Assuming that the declining trend

in the population growth rate will continue in the future years also, the

population for the year 2026 has been projected as follows:

Population

(in millions)

Density

(Persons per sq.km.)

(i) Chennai City 5.856 33300

(ii) Municipalities 3.569 14900

(iii) Town Panchayats 1.222 7800

(iv) Village Panchayats 1.988 3200

(v) CMA [Total] 12.582 10500

However from Table 3.2, it is seen that the rate of growth of

population in 2001-2011 has increased considerably in Tamil Nadu state,

CUA, CMA and rest of CMA except the Chennai city which has met with a

decrease of over 6% decadal growth rate. In respect of land use classification

adopted, three categories of land use are added in the proposed land use plan

viz., mixed residential use, special & hazardous use and urbanisable use

zones.

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Figure 3.7 Land Use of Chennai Metropolitan Area-2006 Source: CMDA 2008

101

102

Figure 3.8 Proposed land use for CMA-2026 in Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area-2026

Source: CMDA 2008.

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3.4 PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS, PLANS AND POLICIES

RELATING TO CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA

The physical features are treated as constraints in the perspective of

urban development as they hinder contiguous development. Further the

agencies which are the custodians of maintaining such features impose

restrictions on development so as to safeguard them from exploitation or

deterioration. In CMA there are physical constraints in the form of river,

stream, canal, low lying area, marshy land, catchment area, quarry, salt pans

and so on. In addition, Government of India has notified the Coastal

Regulation Zone (CRZ) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Also

Second Master Plan for CMA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority

2008) has laid regulations such as Restricted Development Zone in aquifer

recharge area, Prohibited Development Area in Indian Air Force area and

Pallikaranai swamp area which are dealt in detail in the following sections.

3.4.1 Water bodies, Catchment Areas and Coastal Regulation Zone

(CRZ)

Three non-perennial rivers traverse CMA namely, the

Kosathalaiyar on the northern part, the Coovum River on the western part and

the Adyar River on the south western part. The Buckingham Canal, a man-

made canal once used for transportation of goods, runs parallel to the sea

coast throughout the CMA area. The Redhills Lake and the Sholavaram Lake

on the northwestern part of CMA and the Chembarambakkam Lake on the

south western part of CMA cater the drinking water needs of the Chennai City

and the sub urban areas. Developments within a distance of 100m from the

rivers and Buckingham Canal attract CRZ rules. CMA has a lengthy sea line.

The areas along the coast of Bay of Bengal within a distance of 500m also

attract CRZ rules.

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The Second Master Plan for CMA (Chennai Metropolitan

Development Authority 2008) has notified 27 villages in the northern part of

CMA as Redhills catchment area where new commercial and institutional

developments are not permitted. Also reclassification into any urban land use

is not permitted. In addition, multistoreyed buildings are not permitted in the

Redhills catchment area.

3.4.2 Aquifer Recharge Areas - Restricted Development Zone

In order to protect and maintain the aquifers present in the coastal

villages of Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Okkiamthorapakkam,

Injambakkam, Karapakkam, Sholinganallur and Uthandi, the area falling in

these villages between the coastal line in the eastern side and Buckingham

Canal in the western side has been declared as the Aquifer Recharge Area -

Restricted Development Zone. In this zone, ordinary residential and

commercial buildings, institutional and other non-multistoreyed buildings are

permissible with a maximum Floor Space Index (FSI) of 0.8 (maximum of 1.0

FSI in case of developments in natham areas, declared Economically Weaker

Section (EWS) area and EWS plots). Incidentally, the areas covered under the

Restricted Development Zone attract CRZ rules.

3.4.3 Development Prohibited Area

Areas within 100m around the boundary of the Indian Air Force

Station near Tambaram are prohibited for development. Likewise, considering

the drainage system in the area the contiguous swamp area in Pallikaranai

village has been declared for conservation as swamp area, prohibited for

development.

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3.4.4 Non-urban Areas and Areas not suited for Development

Areas which are not suitable for human habitations such as

burning/burial grounds, salt pans, stone quarries, stone crushers, brick kilns

etc., are classified as non-urban areas in the Second Master Plan for CMA

(Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority 2008). There are restrictions

on development in the non-urban areas and their close proximity such as the

following:

No site in Municipal and Panchayat areas which is within a

distance of 30 metres from a place declared and used as a

burning or burial place/ground shall be used for layout or

subdivision for human habitation.

No subdivision or layout shall be laid out or building for

Residential, Commercial, Industrial or Institutional or any

structure for occupation shall be constructed within 500m from

an existing live quarry.

No subdivision or layout shall be laid out or residential or

commercial or institutional building shall be constructed within

the radius of 500m from an existing crusher.

Only the uses related to the purposes of agriculture, burning,

burial grounds, crematoria and cemeteries, salt pans and salt

manufacturing, brick, earthen tile or pottery manufacturing,

stone crushing and quarrying, sand, clay and gravel quarrying

and the incidental residential uses are permitted in non-urban

use zone.

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In addition to the non-urban areas detailed above, the areas notified

as reserved forests, lands owned by Government agencies, hillocks also have

restrictions for development.

3.5 SUMMARY

The growth of CMA over four decades is studied in detail in this

chapter. Elaborate study on growth of population as well as land use changes

in the area is carried out. The transportation network, its problems, the

physical constraints in the area and their influence on the development are

also studied in detail. In line with the increase in population the residential

land use has increased from 19.92% to 21.87% during 2001-2006. The other

land uses have also shown sizeable increase during this period.

The analysis of population growth and land use changes in CMA is

carried out in the next chapter. The emergence of villages with population

growth during different decades and the reasons behind the growth dynamics

are studied in detail. The various reasons for the emergence of the villages

have given an insight in to the identification of variables which have

influenced such growth.