The changing face of Chennai – Part Deux
(This post is sort of a sequel. My very first post on the Chennai Metblogs had the same title. And I also complete a year of Metblogging).
Buildings like the one below would have been a rarity a few years back. But you only have to drive around Chennai (like I did last Sunday) to see the changes that are happening as we speak (or write).
(image source: Skyscrapercity)
At one time, no building in the city could be taller than the 14 floors of LIC. This, combined with the general aversion towards vertical constructions in the then conservative Madras, ensured that the only “skyscraper” the city could boast of, was the LIC building. Today, Chennai houses several high-rises, many of them – both residential and commercial, taller than LIC (please see a previous post by Lavanya on something similar. The picture has also been linked in the comments by G. V. Balasubramanian).
On the residential front, this change is palpable with land becoming scarcer and consequently dearer inside the city limits, giving rise to multi-storied apartment complexes. With commercial buildings, it is almost a norm to have a towering structure given the more liberal FSI rules governing those. While this “Gateway to the South” may not develop a Manhattan-like skyline, yet the potential for the downtown area to be totally different than what it is today, is very much in the realm of possibility.
For one thing, Chennai has been traditionally strong in retail and at the same time, innovative on the “last-mile” formats. There is also tremendous scope for mixed type office-retail/mall space absorption in the central business district (CBD) area(s). Throw in a couple of corporate hospitals and we could be looking at a very different Mount Road of the future. Already a few buses have started looking like those in many progressive economies (closed-door) and road-signage has also kept pace with the times. So, the last scene in the movie “Mudhalvan” that showed Director Shankar’s vision of how Chennai will look in the future, may not be too off the mark :-).
Eagerly awaiting a less-greener city!
Is this abt changing the physical face of chennai or the general impression of chennai? If its the latter too, f^%k the auto drivers.
There is rapid development occuring and having more skyscrapers will increase the beauty of the city however there need to be strict rules and regulations in place to prevent illegal construction and alterations. Also we need to kick out all the pokiris and hindians then Chennai will be a better place.
OK. Part Deux looks pleasing.
What about ‘the END’ and the day after..
Building tall buildings with pastel colors
may be pleasing to the passerby but what
about ‘safety’ for those who plan to live
inside ? How many believe these buildings
are built with safety in mind ? Do you
believe when the ‘dravidian thugs’ accept
payola for permits from ‘IT pimps’ they
ask about safety features planned for the
building ?
I don’t think so. So, it is not about
Part Uno, Part Deux …but it is all about
‘the END’. Do you want be seen alive
or dead in SUN TV ? Think and ask questions in public about building safety and the rescue
capabilities of the local govt. before
you sign on the dotted line.
But, then again ‘dravidian thugs’ may not need
you to sign anything in the dotted line as
long as you bring with you $$ not rupiahs.
Avoid tall building. Live long and prosper.
would love to see more and more high rise building in chennai.
Do high rise buildings signify growth? I am against high rise buildings. Imagine the amount of water that would sucked up and the number of vehicles that would ply in and out of the building. Needless to say the small, individual houses around the hight rise buildings. They would be deprieved of sunlight, air, privacy and ofcourse ground water. Almost all high rise buildings – in any part of the world – is a technique adopted to make more money. Please, lets not equate that to economic development and encourage such a trend.
I hope all these skyscrapers have been built after proper soil studies. Such buildings do add to the modern beauty of the city. BUT, natural beauties like Cooum/Adyar rivers, all city lakes/ponds/creeks, Green parks are wel preserved. The city should be a intriguing mix of natural and concrete fixtures! Also, public parking garages should come up (these can also house street vendors). this will make streets easier to ply on.
Boooooo
‘ANNOYNMOS’ stated is 100% correct. Till the completion and occupation by the people on such skyscrappers , the CMDA and other concerned Officials would have a nice nap after getting what they required personally and after passing the requirements of Politifians and Minisaters, suddencly wakE up ONE FINE MORNING AND and seRVE demolition notices to the occupantas and owners of such buildingS. The best example on hand is that the evacuation and demolition notice have beeen served on “CITY CENTRE POINT” ON RADHAKRISHNMAN ROAD NOW ONLY AS PER THE DETAILED nEWS PUBLISHED IN TO-DAY’S HIONDU
What is strange is that all these land mapping/land records/GIS projects started and won world bank awards and now one doesnt see any major development happening. Or do I need to be updated about this? We can teach the world how best to utilize technology to bring in efficiency/transparency but have not been able to do it in our own country. Kind of ironic and comical. While the TCSs and Infys have been busy getting business in the US, the IBMs and the Accentures are winning business in India. Globalization…I tell you… :-)
Totally ridiculous. Why pay lakhs and crores for an apartment built amidst the city plagued by pollution,traffic,power cuts,poor infrastructures-roads,water scarcity and corruption.It makes no sense to buy an apartment with so many deficits and boast and flout a false sense of pride..pity indians..
Chennai needs to welcome hindi and make more cosmo. better population makes better economy.
Ajith on 4th has suggested that HINDIANS need to be kicked out, I presume that he means hindi speaking crowd, hello mind you this is a free country and no bloody political party or a person can make such stupid comments.
By the way are you a PMK supporter or any of the so-called guardian of TAMIL/TAMIL CULTURE in short DRAVIDIAN party sympathiser, do not be foolish by blindly believing what the so called leaders of which ever party you support says. Everyone be it PMK’s Ramadoss’ grandchildren in Delhi are in a best school with no Tamil influence, did Anbumani study MBBS in Tamil? Ms. Kanimozhi (daughter of the so-called ultimate authority for TAMIL is from a Punjabi association run Adarsh Vidyalaya in Madras and not from CHENNAI corporation school)if every state makes a policy to evict the linguistic minorities can TAMIL NADU AFFORD TO RECALL SEVERAL LAKHS OR MAY BE A CRORE TAMILS residing outside the state (including me) and ensure a decent living?
Through this I request all fellow readers not to encourage any kind of linguistic hatred and join in to strongly condemn MORONS who derive such sadistic pleasure by calling name et al…..
regards,
Ajith on 4th has suggested that HINDIANS need to be kicked out, I presume that he means hindi speaking crowd, hello mind you this is a free country and no bloody political party or a person can make such stupid comments.
By the way are you a PMK supporter or any of the so-called guardian of TAMIL/TAMIL CULTURE in short DRAVIDIAN party sympathiser, do not be foolish by blindly believing what the so called leaders of which ever party you support says. Everyone be it PMK’s Ramadoss’ grandchildren in Delhi are in a best school with no Tamil influence, did Anbumani study MBBS in Tamil? Ms. Kanimozhi (daughter of the so-called ultimate authority for TAMIL is from a Punjabi association run Adarsh Vidyalaya in Madras and not from CHENNAI corporation school)if every state makes a policy to evict the linguistic minorities can TAMIL NADU AFFORD TO RECALL SEVERAL LAKHS OR MAY BE A CRORE TAMILS residing outside the state (including me) and ensure a decent living?
Through this I request all fellow readers not to encourage any kind of linguistic hatred and join in to strongly condemn MORONS who derive such sadistic pleasure by calling name et al…..
regards,