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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.