Coming up, mega township at Thirumazhisai

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced several housing projects to help the residents of Chennai city buy their own houses at affordable prices. The highlight of the projects is a proposed satellite township which is to be built at a cost of Rs 2,160 crore near the city, besides construction of flats near Ashok Pillar and Koyambedu and a 17-storey mega office complex at Nandanam, all at an estimated cost of Rs 349 crore.Making a suo motu statement in the State Assembly, the CM said the cost of multi-storey tenements in Chennai metropolitan area has gone up manifold, making it difficult for people belonging to the poor and middle classes to buy a house of their own. Considering the fast pace of growth of the city, the government would be implementing many housing schemes to provide an opportunity for all sections of the society to purchase a house of their own.The satellite township is proposed to be set up near Thirumazhisai on the Chennai-Bangalore Highway by bringing together the villages of Chembarambakkam, Kuthambakkam, Parvatharajapuram, Narasingapuram and Vellavedu as well as 311.05 acres of land belonging to the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. An approach road to the township would be laid in 12.87 acres of land currently owned by private parties. This land will be acquired in consultation with the owners of these lands.The Thirumazhisai Satellite Township would have all basic amenities — drinking water, drainage system, roads, storm water drains, street lights, community hall, school, hospital, park and playground, the CM said amidst thumping of desks by members.As many as 12,000 multi-storey apartments would be constructed here and made available to people from economically backward sections, low and middle income groups. Apart from the township, 554 multi-storey apartments would be constructed at a cost of Rs 100 crore in an area of 3.73 acre near Ashok Pillar, now lying vacant, to fulfil the housing needs of the city residents. Yet another group of 120 tenements would be constructed in SAF Games Village at Koyambedu at a cost of Rs 33 crore.