CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has introduced a facility, which allows one to access land use maps of the Second Master Plan (SMP) and the approved Detailed Development Plan (DDP) through the internet. The first-of-itskind initiative in the country was launched by Minister for Information and Urban Development Parithi Ellamvazhuthi here on Sunday.
A press release stated that prints of the maps/plans could be taken free of cost through the website http://cmdachennai.gov.in, without going to the CMDA’s office at Egmore.
A total of 398 maps of the SMP and 56 maps of the DDPs have been converted into the digital format with embedded security features. While the digital maps were prepared by the CMDA’s in-house Geographic Information Cell System (GIS) cell, the website has been designed by the NIC, the release added.
According official sources from the CMDA, the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) comprises 1,189 sq km, with 55 villages in the city and another 374 villages in the neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Land falling in the peripheral areas are earmarked for different purposes, such as for making them into primary residential, mixed residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, special and hazardous industrial, open space & recreational, nonurban, water body, agriculture, continuous building area and economically weaker section (EWS) areas.
“People had to visit the CMDA office for getting a hard copy of land use maps. However, from now onwards, they can access it on their PCs,” an official said.