The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Draft plan `ignores housing needs'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 14, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Draft plan `ignores housing needs'

Staff Reporter

CMDA should allow multi-storeyed flats, land reclassification, say builders

ALL SMILES: Federation of Tamilnadu Flat and Housing Promoters Association president P. Manishankar with Confederation of Flat Promoters Association president K. Kannan at a meeting in Chennai on Sunday. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI : The draft second master plan prepared by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) does not address the housing needs of the middle and lower income groups, builders and promoters said at a meeting organised here on Sunday.

The CMDA should allow construction of more multi-storeyed buildings and increase the floor space index (FSI) if housing options have to become cheaper, according to K. Kannan, president, Confederation of Flat Promoters Association.

Prompt Publication had organised the meeting to discuss the draft plan.

President of the Federation of Tamilnadu Flat and Housing Promoters Association P. Manishankar said unless CMDA encourages "vertical development" builders would not be able to meet the demand for housing, which is expected to skyrocket according to the draft plan as well.

The plan also was not clear when it came to land classification, which in turn was fuelling the rise in land prices.

"If you promote Old Mahabalipuram Road as an IT corridor, then you have to reclassify the surrounding agricultural land as residential. Only then there will be adequate housing options for everyone," said Mr. Manishankar.

Lack of clarity in land classification was also felt in parts of Chromepet, said Mr. Kannan. "They are yet to reclassify areas that are commercial in nature. Unfortunately, the draft plan does not address this issue," he said.

To address the deficiencies in the plan, the builders should discuss the options available, create public awareness about the shortcomings, and submit their suggestions to the government, he added.

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