The George Town Local Area Plan (LAP), launched by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut), has reportedly hit a roadblock due to land acquisition hurdles, according to official sources.

“The concept of a Local Area Plan is similar to urban renewal,” said K. P. Subramanian, retired Professor of Urban Engineering, Anna University. “George Town is an ideal candidate due to its narrow roads, out-dated land use pattern, inadequate basic amenities, and non-high- buildings not commensurating with the increasing land value. But current status of this plan is unknown,” he added.

The LAP was proposed to ease congestion, structural dilapidation, outdated land use patterns, narrow streets, and inadequate infrastructure.

When asked about the current status, senior authorities with the State government said that there has been resistance from long-term residents and traders to redeveloping George Town — one of Chennai’s oldest and densest quarters — and that there may be a need for another round of consultations. Notably, initial talks with locals were held in 2022.

Documents on the CMDA website show that the LAP was conceived as early as 2006. Minutes of the 215th and 217th CMDA Authority Meetings, both held in 2006 show there was progress — including consultations with stakeholder groups such as the Gunny Bag Merchants Association and iron and steel goods traders — and allocation of funds, though without specifying how much, from the Planning and Development Fund to support LAP preparation.

A Terms of Reference (ToR) document dated December 13, 2023 detailed the methodology, scope, and deliverables for in-house preparation of LAPs, aimed at improving land use, infrastructure, and urban form in high-pressure zones.

As per this ToR, LAP project was to begin with a GIS-based base map, followed by field surveys on land use, building conditions, infrastructure, and transport. A vision statement was to be developed through stakeholder consultations, leading to proposals on zoning, roads, infrastructure, mobility, and open spaces, along with cost estimates and an implementation strategy.

The focus on this project emerged after the CMDA initiated consultations to redevelop 12 kilometers of Anna Salai and 10 kilometers of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) under an LAP project.

According to a document shared by the CMDA, the LAP will focus on a 12.5-kilometre stretch between Omandurar Government Estate Junction and Kathipara Junction along Anna Salai and a 10 km stretch from SRP Tools Junction to Sholinganallur along OMR.