The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has yet to take action on 387 dilapidated buildings identified in a 2022 survey with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). Despite issuing notices to 100 structures, no demolitions have taken place, leaving dangerous buildings with exposed reinforcements and cracked roofs across areas like Anna Nagar, Ambattur, and George Town. Many of these buildings still house residents, complicating efforts due to ongoing litigations between owners and builders. Under the 2020 Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body Rules, the GCC is required to conduct structural stability assessments. Officials said a fresh survey of dilapidated buildings is expected to begin soon.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has yet to take action on 387 dilapidated buildings across the city that were identified during a joint survey with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in 2022. Although notices have been issued to around 100 of these buildings, no demolitions have taken place so far. These aging and unsafe structures continue to pose a serious risk, with crumbling concrete, exposed steel reinforcements, and cracked roofs. Some of the affected areas include Seventh Main Road in Anna Nagar, Collector Nagar in Ambattur Estate Road, George Town, and Santhome Housing Board tenements.
R. Rajendiran, the executive engineer of the GCC buildings department, acknowledged that no new survey has been conducted since 2022. Rajendiran stated that the local zones are tasked with identifying the dilapidated buildings and that they would soon compile updated data. Despite the visible dangers, several of these buildings, especially those in George Town and Old Washermenpet, constructed in the 1950s, still have residents living in them. Officials noted that more than half of the buildings identified remain occupied. In some cases, legal disputes between owners and builders have delayed action, while in others, disagreements among property owners have caused delays. According to the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body Rules 2020, the GCC is required to conduct structural stability assessments and issue updated certificates for old buildings. However, many of these processes have yet to be completed.
In some dilapidated housing board colonies, residents have partnered with private builders to demolish and reconstruct the structures. However, these plans are often delayed due to issues such as compensation disputes with builders or delays in project approvals. As a result, some owners continue to rent out the unsafe buildings until reconstruction can begin. An official mentioned that around 80 notices have been issued in the northern zones of Chennai over the past year. The corporation is planning to start a new survey of these buildings soon to address the ongoing issue.
The Greater Chennai Corporation has made little progress in addressing the risks posed by 387 dilapidated buildings identified in 2022. Despite issuing notices for some structures, no demolitions have occurred, and many remain occupied, posing significant safety hazards. Legal disputes and delays in approvals have further complicated the situation. To tackle this ongoing issue, the corporation plans to conduct a new survey to assess the condition of these buildings and expedite necessary actions for their safety.
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