CHENNAI: Realtors are urging the state government to intervene and halt the CMDA’s enforcement of its grid road plan, which they claim lacks a proper government order. In a letter addressed to Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, the realtors pointed out that some CMDA officials have been applying the grid layout when processing planning and development applications.
“We have brought this to the government’s attention, as the scheme is flawed. The grid proposal disrupts already approved buildings, necessitating a complete re-evaluation. CMDA has been implementing this without statutory approval, leading to numerous projects being on hold, which causes significant hardship for developers and the public,” stated S. Sridharan, a member of the CREDAI National executive committee.
Realtors expressed that many projects adhering to the current master plan are now facing additional, unapproved requirements from the yet-to-be-announced grid framework, resulting in lengthy approval delays of over a year.
Concerns were also raised regarding the grid alignment intersecting approved layouts and completed structures. The letter noted that certain roads, either gifted or already in existence, were overlooked, resulting in what they deemed a “technically flawed and impractical” layout without formal authorization. This has caused confusion as the grid plan has yet to be officially launched or made public.
S. Ramprabhu, Chairman of the DTCP panel of the Builders Association of India, remarked that during road expansions, the government typically acquires equal portions of land from both sides. “We are willing to provide that land, which often leads to better Floor Space Index (FSI) and broader roads, but this process must follow a legitimate government order,” he asserted.
The realtors have asked the government to instruct the CMDA to suspend the grid plan’s enforcement until a comprehensive study and stakeholder discussions are conducted, with a formal government order or notification issued. Nevertheless, a housing department official indicated that CMDA officers have already been directed not to implement the grid plan until it is formally announced. “This notification will be part of the third master plan. This is an ongoing issue that has been addressed,” the official stated.
