G.O.(D) No.22, Development of Lands Along the 50m Stretch of Outer Ring Road, 2022

What the government approved

The Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development [UD3(1)] Department, through G.O.(D) No.22 dated 25 March 2022, gives the Member Secretary of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority in-principle approval to prepare a Detailed Feasibility Report for Level-1 projects along the 50 metre strip of the Outer Ring Road.

The approval follows a Budget Announcement concerning better use of a 770 acre strip owned by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. The announcement also contemplated implementing feasible projects through a land pooling area development scheme that could include nearby private lands.

Projects to be studied

The Level-1 projects and potential locations listed for feasibility work are:

• Passenger wayside amenities, requiring 6 to 7 acres, in Stretch 2.
• Truck bays, requiring 5 to 6 acres, in Stretches 2, 4 and 7.
• A trauma care facility, requiring 6 acres, in Stretch 3.
• Wayside amenities for passengers and truck drivers, requiring 6 to 7 acres, in Stretch 4.
• A centre of excellence, requiring 10 to 15 acres, in Stretch 5.
• Horticultural parks, with area depending on land availability, in Stretch 6.
• A centralised disaster management unit, requiring 5 to 6 acres, in Stretch 6.
• Wayside amenities for truck drivers, requiring 6 to 7 acres, in Stretch 7.
• A warehousing cluster, requiring 200 to 300 acres, in Stretch 8.

Planning requirements

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority must consider the decisions taken at the Outer Ring Road project meeting, including:

• Inspection of the full 62.3 kilometre Outer Ring Road stretch by stakeholder departments.
• Identification of Government lands within a 2 kilometre buffer on the eastern and western sides.
• Zoning of the 50 metre strip according to adjoining development and proposed uses.
• Planning parameters to support transit-oriented development.
• Identification of inundation areas before key projects proceed.
• Reservation of some areas for green belts and recreation.
• Review of road access, the elevated Port Expressway alignment and land market or saleable rates.
• Preparation of memoranda of understanding for Government department projects, and feasibility and project reports for private partnerships.

Who may be affected

Owners of land near the Outer Ring Road may be affected by later studies or proposals, particularly because nearby private land was contemplated for possible land pooling. G.O.(D) No.22 only approves preparation of a Detailed Feasibility Report and does not record a final decision to include any particular private property.