Deccan Chronicle 28.01.2010

8 more zones for Greater Chennai

Jan. 27: The field officers of corporation committees formed to figure out new corporation zones under the Chennai expansion plan have favoured the creation of eight new zones. According to health committee sources, the new zonal headquarters are likely to come up at Madhavaram, Manali, Thiruvottiyur, Ambattur, Alandur, Sholinganallur, Perungudi or Pallikaranai, Valasaravakkam or Porur.

Currently, there are 10 corporation zones and, upon expansion, the total number of zones will increase to 18. These eight new zones would be formed in the suburban areas to ease bureaucratic procedures and administration. On expansion, the corporation is likely to have around 175 wards and about 50 existing wards will be merged during the expansion plan, sources said.

Similarly, the engineering and revenue departments are also in favour of creating eight new zones and discussions are under way. The revenue department had also started approaching the nearby civic bodies to be merged with the corporation seeking their financial conditions and revenue generation process.

The engineering department, after assessing the infrastructure facilities in the suburban areas, would soon submit a report to the special officer. Currently, the corporation officials are focused on budget work and after the corporation budget in March, the expansion work will gain momentum, sources said.

Three factors, including population, geographic size and infrastructure, will determine the formation of the new wards. Within six months, the corporation, after assessing the infrastructure facilities in the suburban areas, would submit a detailed report with recommendations to the state government. The report will also explain the government about absorption of employees from nearby civic bodies and the execution modalities of the proposed expansion plan, sources added.

It may be noted the government recently passed orders to expand the Chennai city from 174 square kilometre to 424 sq Km.The new corporation limit will include suburbs like Thiruvottiyur, Porur, Ambattur, Alandur, Sholinganallur and Madhavaram.