More than 70,000 applications were received by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority for the sale of 255 un-alloted and cancelled plots in five areas of the city. The draw of lots for the plot allotments would be on February 8.

CMDA officials said they received more than 35,000 applications on the last day for the plots being sold at Marimalai Nagar, Manali, Gudalur, Koyambedu and Sathangadu.

It is likely that CMDA would have earned more than Rs 7 crore through the sale of applications but the biggest challenge would be to put up a list of applicants online to avoid confusion.

It is believed that during the regularisation applications for schemes since 1999, there have been certain anomalies in collection of demand draft after 64,000 applications were received. These were also pointed out during the audit and sources feel that utmost care has to be taken so that such things are not repeated.

Interestingly, the final day of receiving applications resulted in a massive rush creating traffic congestion for several hours in the busy Gandhi Irwin road in Egmore stretch. Long-winding serpentine queues were seen since morning as people from various parts of the city gathered to try their luck to be one of the owners of the 255 plots.

The crowd started gathering by 11 am. As crowd continued to swell, the police barricaded the side-arm of a railway bridge which was in place till the office closed at 6pm. “This is an overwhelming response, we did not expect such a crowd,” a senior CMDA official said, adding that there will be no further extension of the deadline. “This is the last date,” he said. A total of 25 counters were set up but it was difficult for the officials to manage the crowd. While senior CMDA officials maintain that more than 35,000 people registered by paying `1,000 each for the application form, people claim that each counter had nearly 2,000 applications.

CMDA sources said it was also the right time to get back the land to an extent of 178.87 acres, which was acquired to develop satellite town at Marimalai Nagar in 1972. “This could be done by shifting the planners in allotment wing and planning wing to the site and prepare a plan for Marimalai Nagar layout for the people and sell the plots,” the source said.

He also said the expansion of Chennai Metropolitan Area should be immediately taken up and the encroached government land should be retrieved, developed into plots by CMDA and sold to the public.