CHENNAI: The city planners are seriously considering a proposal to establish a bus terminus and a market, akin to those set up at Koyambedu, on the southern outskirts of Chennai.
According to sources, the agency has appointed a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for identifying commercially viable projects, including a market, on the land that it had earlier identified at Nandhivaram in Guduvanchery for setting up a terminus for south-bound buses.
The land, which belongs to Arulmigu Nadeeswarar Temple at the village, is still under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department. In order to undertake any development, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has to acquire the land as it belongs to the Trust.
Sources told Express that the plan is to develop the land into a market similar to Koyambedu, and also to develop it for other commercial purposes.
“The idea is to create a hub like Koyambedu that includes a market or any other commercial venture including projects pertaining to hospitality sector. The site is about 2-3 km away from the proposed bus terminus,” sources said.
However, the challenge that the CMDA has to undertake is transferring the patta of the temple land which is in the name of the temple trust. To acquire it, the planning body has to pay the cost as per the new Land Acquisition Act, which could make the entire exercise costly.
“We are in talks with the HR&CE Department to seek their participation in developing the temple land outside the Chennai Metropolitan Area limits,” said sources.
Meanwhile, a consultant has already been appointed to take up the feasibility study of the bus terminus on the site spread over 88.52 acres. The development of Nandhivaram land is being proposed keeping in mind the proposed bus terminus in Urapakkam.
Sources also revealed that affordable housing projects are also likely to come up there.
“We are looking at transit-oriented development of the whole area,” the source added.