14 land owners to receive development rights certificate as part of widening of Veerangal Odai.

After roads and metrorail, the development of waterways
in the metropolitan area too will benefit from the use of the Transfer
of Development Rights (TDR). Residents who lose land for such projects
are set to receive development rights certificates that enable the
property owner to claim additional built-up area (floor space index) in
lieu of the area surrendered to the government agency.

The
Water Resources Department has sought TDR from the CMDA for its project
to improve Veerangal Odai, a surplus course in south Chennai. TDR has
emerged a ray of hope for improvement of waterways affected by rapid
urban development in the metropolitan area. Many pieces of land owned by
private agencies near major waterways such as Cooum too have emerged as
hurdles to conservation of such waterways.

Development
rights certificate can be used by owners to transfer development rights
to a buyer or to conserve the value of land lost for an urban
development project. So far, twelve provisional development rights
certificates have been issued by the CMDA for roads and metrorail
projects. If site is already developed, irrespective of whether it is an
authorised or unauthorised, the part of the land required for public
purpose is eligible for the award of the development rights
certificates.

The TDR to widen the Veerangal Odai,
the first time it is being issued for the development of a waterway in
Chennai, was necessitated for completion of a JNNURM project on time.
The waterway carries surplus water from Velachery and Adambakkam lakes
and also flood water from neighbouring areas. 

After
the Highways department had completed land acquisition for the project,
it was found that more land was required for the alignment of the canal.
At present, flood protection wall along the canal on Pallavaram
Thoraipakkam Radial Road has been constructed up to a distance of 7,500
metre. 

“We have requested TDR to complete the JNNURM
project in the remaining stretch of 650 metre,” said an official. The
canal is being improved to a width of 6- 14 metre wherever possible. 

As
the land acquisition exercise has been already completed, further cost
cannot be borne by the department, the official said. The process would
further delay the project. So, the 14 land owners in the project area
would be given TDR. The department requires 2,000 square metres to
complete the project this year.

Certificate enables owners to claim additional built-up area for land surrendered.