Chennai: The city will get 36 new parks and 11 playgrounds at around ₹44 crore, as Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will develop them in the first phase of Chief Minister’s Integrated Urban Development Mission (CMIUDM).The projects come under the CMIUDM, a five-year mission launched by the state govt for 2026-2031, with an overall outlay of ₹1.5 lakh crore to improve infrastructure and civic amenities across urban local bodies. Of this, ₹2,000 crore has been earmarked over five years for urban greening, recreation and open spaces across the state’s urban local bodies.GCC commissioner G S Sameeran said the tender process for 36 parks at a cost of ₹34.45 crore and 11 playgrounds at ₹9.52 crore was underway. The new parks will come up across the city, in Manali, Tondiarpet, Alandur, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones. The 11 playgrounds will be in Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, Kodambakkam and Sholinganallur.In Manali zone, new parks are planned at Sendhur Kumaran Nagar, Elandhanur, Periyar Nagar and Anbu Valarmathi Nagar. In Tondiarpet, a park is proposed beneath the 2B bridge on Manali Road, and parks will come up on CTH Road, Kumaran Nagar, Park Road, Gurusamy Street, Mogappair Industrial Estate and areas near Jeevan Bima Nagar in Ambattur.Other locations include the Kathipara–Airport gateway and VIP arrival/departure area in Alandur, Nelson Manickam Road, and Peters Road in Teynampet. In Perungudi, parks are planned along VGP 7th Cross Street, Sarathi Nagar 2nd Street and Balaji Nagar 19th Street. In Sholinganallur zone, several locations have been identified, including Kannagi Nagar’s 3rd and 4th Main Roads, Adithyaram Nagar and multiple TNUHDB streets.The need for additional green spaces is significant. Guidelines from the Union Ministry of Urban Development recommend 10-12 sq m of open space per person. However, the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA), which covers four corporations, has only about 2% of its geographical area classified as declared parks, according to the Second Master Plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026 (Volume 3), published by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) maintains around 1,000 parks and 400 playgrounds in its 15 zones.
