2. Area Re-Development Plan is a technical and political process concerned with the use of land
and design of urban environment , including air and water and infrastructure passing into and
out of urban areas such as transportation and distribution networks.
08/12/14
A council that does Area re-development plan consider:
designate an area of the municipality as a redevelopment area for the purpose of any or all of the following:
(i) preserving or improving land and buildings in the area;
(ii) rehabilitating buildings in the area;
(iii) removing buildings from the area;
(iv)constructing or replacing buildings in the area;
(v)establishing, improving or relocating roads, public utilities or other services in the area;
(vi)facilitating any other development in the area,
Area Re-Development Plan
4. With the construction of one of India's major port and
George fort, the region became an important naval
base for the British. George town became the core
area of Chennai.
George Town
Source: Wikipedia
Major Locations
5. The commercial corridorsRelationship of commercial land use
and the temple locations
Commercial Corridors
Source: culture and commerce of Chennai city – A spatial Analysis of the
relationship between temples and retail Activity
T-Nagar
Koyambedu
Sathangadu
George Town
6. The commercial corridorsRelationship of commercial land use
and the temple locations
Commercial Corridors
Source: culture and commerce of Chennai city – A spatial Analysis of the
relationship between temples and retail Activity
T-Nagar
Koyambedu
Sathangadu
George Town
7. History
1600-the city was formed of a few scattered settlements separated by long
distances. Each settlement grew around the nucleus of a religious institution
especially of a temple. The most important part at that time was Mylapore.
• 1639-Francis Day was looking for somewhere to build a fortified
warehouse for the English East India Company, he soon acquired
the land, where in 1640 he built the compound named Fort St
George.
Soon after it was built, a township began to grow up outside it for the
natives catering to the needs of the Europeans inside, and this
became known as the Black Town(George town).
• By the early 18th century, with a growing population and commercial
activities, there was congestion in Black Town, resulting in dispersion of
some of the population to neighboring areas.
A fishing hamlet existed at the present site of George Town called as
Chennai Patanam, from which the name of Chennai was derived.
• By 1733, George Town became very congested and the weaving
community started settling in Chintadripet area where lot of open
space was available for their activities. The washer men, who
were in the Mint area moved towards the west.
Spatial Growth pattern from core area
8. In 1773, the English erected 13 pillars along the flattened area of the Black
Town and banned construction in any form between the pillars and the
fort which would otherwise block the view of possible invaders.
• Potters from this area moved outside the Fort on the north side and
formed a new colony named Kosapet.
When the French occupied Madras in 1746 and returned it to the English in 1749
in exchange for Quebec by the Treaty of Aex-La-Chapel, the English flattened a
part of Black Town in order to have a clear field for fire in the event of a future
attack.
• Soon a new township, known as the new Black Town, came up
beyond these pillars and the old Black Town gave way to
the Madras high court.
In 1800 especially after the inception of Municipal Corporation, the
development of the city began.
• A thoroughfare was formed along the stretch between the pillars and
the high court. which later became the China Bazar road.
9. Several Tamil refugees from Burma, who fled Myanmar during the early sixties, arrived in
George Town.
• In 1969, the Burma Bazar, a market selling imported foreign goods in shops on
pavements, was established by these Burmese refugees-turned-entrepreneurs.
Relocation of wholesale activities in Vegetable, Fruit and Flower from CBD to
Koyambedu and City bus stand from CBD to Koyambedu have been carried out; Iron and
Steel Market at Sathangadu was developed. Truck terminal at Madhavaram was made
operational.
Old map of George town A street in George town
Plan of Fort St George and the city of
Madras in 1726
10. 10
Issues in George Town
Traffic Congestion in George town due to narrow roads.
Congestion due to commercial activities
Poor Infrastructure facilities
On-street vendors, soaring prices
poor sanitation
non-availability of land
Lack of Pedestrian facilities.
On-street Parking issues
Informal activities are high in George town area.
Improper maintenance of Heritage Buildings.
Street in George town
11. Mannadi Street (Textiles, imported
goods, eateries)
Angappa naicken street (masjid, textile,
eateries)
Linghi chetty street (steel hardware, electric motors and
pump sets)
Coral Merchant Street (Transport and shipping
offices)
12. 12
Strategic proposals
The CMDA removed encroachments from the satellite township of Maraimalai Nagar, central
business district of George Town, Koyambedu market complex.
The CMDA has sought the help of the Chennai Corporation and the police to evict the traders
from Badrian Street and wholesale flower traders in George Town, as per court orders.
CMDA Shifted the wholesale market from George town to Koyambedu Market.
CMDA shifted Iron and Steel market to Sathangadu.
CMDA announced Road Widening to reduce traffic congestion .
Strategies were adopted not to affect heritage buildings by Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL).
14. Similarity between one town
George Town One town
• George Town and its extension
southwards into Anna Salai together
constitute the central business
district of the City where most of the
wholesale trade, specialised retail
trade and banking and financial
institutions are located and where
commercial activity is intense.
• Koovum(Buckingham canal)
riverfront development.
• One town is also specialized in
Commercial retail and wholesale
activities and is the core area of
Vijayawada.
• Krishna riverfront development
• Roads are narrow in the streets of
George town
• Condition of Roads in One-town are
also in poor condition.
• Infrastructure is poor • One town has poor infrastructure in
terms of storm water drains.
• George town has heritage structures
like Fort St George, Madras high
court, museum, Thousand Lights
mosque and Theosophical Society
and and has five temples .
• One town include Heritage buildings
like temples.
15. Lessons learnt
Congestion in one-town can be reduced by promoting mixed land use.
Encroachments can be shifted from the Road side to Gandhi mahila
kalashala;which is an open area as it has good connectivity as in
Kaleshwara Rao market.
Infrastructure can be improved.
16. References
’Structure of Chennai’. Chapter 1. CMDA. Retrieved 24 Feb 2013.
Wikipedia
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) report
The Times of India website,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-Metro-rail-allays-
fears-that-tunnelling-works-will-rattle-heritage-
buildings/articleshow/8113755.cms, 29 April 2011, 06.23 am, Accessed on
22.06.2014
The Hindu website, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/cmda-
seeks-to-ramp-up-antiencroachment-drive/article5125584.ece, 14 September
2013, 09:13 am, Accessed on 13.6.2014
The Hindu website, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/now-
wholesale-iron-merchants-are-scattered/article38783.ece, 20 June 2013, 11:24
am, Accessed on 18.06.2014
Samachar website, http://www.samachar.com/cmda-to-regulate-parking-of-
trailers-in-sathangadu-mcecKLfhfje.html, 30 April 2013, 07:43 pm, Accessed on
16.06.2014
