Satellite city to come up on Chennai outskirts

CHENNAI: Taking the first step towards implementing the DMK's poll promise of setting up satellite cities in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Thursday announced the road map for first such city.

The proposed city would come up in 30,000 acres of land 'tentatively' identified for the purpose near the Old Mahabalipuram Road on the state capital's outskirts.

Announcing this in the state assembly through a suo motu statement, he said the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) had conducted a study of 1.4 lakh acres of wasteland available between the Old Mahabalipuram road and NH 45 and had identified 30,000 acres for building the city.

"The identified land, spread over 270 sq kms, is found to be ideally suitable for setting up the new city, mainly due to the non-polluted air and clean environment."

The land is presently inhabited only by 13,000 families and is largely uncultivated, Karunanidhi said, adding when the government acquired the land, the owners would be duly compensated at the prevailing market rates.

"The satellite city project, which will also function as a trade and IT hub, will not only go a long way in easing the congestion of the Chennai Metropolis but also attract investors," Karunanidhi noted.

Such cities are essential for providing adequate infrastructure for the residents, the CM said. According to the 2001 Census, Chennai city's population is 43.43 lakh and that of Chennai Metropolis 70.4 lakhh.