Chennai: Commercial Development of Land Along 62-Kilometre Outer Ring Road, 87 Projects Proposed In 550 Acres

The Tamil Nadu government has approved the development of a 50-metre-wide strip of land along the 62-km Chennai Outer Ring Road (CORR). 

About 87 projects have been proposed for large-scale commercial development on 550 acres of land. 

A group of international developers is working on the valuation, zoning, and creation of a master plan for the site.

The total amount of land that is available along the 50-metre stretch is 750 acres, of which 196 acres are made up of water bodies, roads, bus bays, quarries, and toll booths. So, the total amount of land that can be developed is only 550 acres.

Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan announced this initiative of commercial development along CORR while presenting the state budget earlier last year.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) alone is planning to execute 33 projects on 70.63 acres. These include proposals for CMDA regional office in Kundrathur, hockey turf, indoor stadium, river-front park, musical fountain, and urban park among others, reports The New Indian Express.

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, Tamil Nadu Small Industries Department, Directorate of Fire and Rescue services, Directorate of Art and Culture, Textiles Department, and Handlooms Department are among the government departments that reportedly submitted proposals.

The future development of the site is likely to involve the involvement of more than 17 government departments.

CMDA planners have conceptualised many proposals including a horticulture garden near the Red Hills catchment area, as well as playgrounds, and parks in areas where development is not permitted.

Chennai Outer Ring Road (CORR)

The CORR was developed as per the First Master Plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area to relieve traffic congestion in the city.

C​​ORR connects NH-45 at Vandalur, NH-4 at Nazarathpet, NH-205 at Nemilichery, NH-5 at Nallur and TPP road at Minjur. It was developed in two phases. The first phase, between Vandalur and ‌ Nemilicheri, was opened for public use in 2014. 

The second phase of 30 km connecting Nemilicheri with Minjur was completed in 2021.

The Second Master Plan has identified areas along CORR as potential areas for future growth.

The total strip of land acquired for the development of the ORR corridor is 122 m, of which 50 m will be used for road development (25 m for each carriageway).

An area of 22 m between left and right carriageways is reserved for public transport corridors (PTC), while the remaining 50 m wide strip is reserved for commercial purposes.