Satellite city for Chennai on 30,000 acre

Chennai, Aug 31 (UNI) A satellite city will come up on 30,000 acre on the outskirts of Chennai to ease congestion and attract investors to the metropolis, which is fast emerging an important IT and industrial hub, Tamil Nadu Chief Miniser M Karunanidhi told the Assembly today.

Making a suo motu statement, he said as per the 2001 census, the city had a population of 43.43 lakh and the metropolis 70.40 lakh.

It was estimated that the population would rise to 58.50 lakh in the city and 125.08 lakh in the metropolis in the next 20 years.

As Chennai was one of the most densely populated metropolitan cities in the world at 28,125 people per square km, there was inadequate infrastructure and lack of space to implement developmental projects. To address these issues, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had identified 30,000 acre land in an area of 1.40 lakh acre, located between the old Mahabalipuram road and NH 45, south of Vandalur-Kelambakkam road, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi said only 13,000 families were living in the identified area, which was located in a pollution-free environment.

As the land had not been used for cultivation, it was suitable for the project, he said and added that the Government would exclude waterways, residential and forest areas while acquiring the land.

During acquisition, land owners would be compensated as per market value and the residents need not be displaced, he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said the development of the proposed satellite city would be integrated with residential areas. Improved roads, drinking water and medical facilities would be provided to local residents.

The proposed project would also generate employment opportunities and improve the economic condition of the locals, he added.

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