Chennai district doubles in size

Its boundaries now match that of the Greater Chennai Corporation. The move is likely to help residents access a variety of services easily. However, questions remain regarding staff strength and pendency of files.

An expanded Chennai district, spread over 426 sq.km. and comprising 122 revenue villages, was unveiled by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami at Fort St. George here on Thursday.

With the expansion, the district that spanned about 178 sq. km. has more than doubled in size and its boundaries correspond to that of the Greater Chennai Corporation.
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With this move, 67 revenue villages from Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts have been added to Chennai district, which had 55 villages. All the 122 villages will be grouped under three revenue zones – North Chennai, Central Chennai and South Chennai.

The North Chennai zone will comprise Tiruvottiyur, Tondiarpet, Madhavaram, Perambur and Purasawalkam taluks, which have 32 revenue villages. The head office will be at Tondiarpet.
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The Central Chennai zone, with its head office at Ambattur, will include Ayanavaram, Aminjikarai, Maduravoyal, Mambalam and Egmore taluks, which comprise 47 revenue villages.

The South Chennai zone, with its head office at Guindy, will comprise Guindy, Mylapore, Velachery, Alandur and Sholinganallur taluks and 43 revenue villages.

“The revenue offices and workers will remain where they are but files concerning new areas presently in the offices of the Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur District Collectors will be brought to the Chennai Collector’s office,” V. Anbuselvan, Chennai Collector, told The Hindu.
According to an official release, the expansion of the district will help in swiftly providing services to residents in newly included areas. The benefits are especially likely in areas such as medical facilities, employment opportunities, education, revenue and disaster management, election-related work, law and order issues, social security schemes and land-related programmes.

The Chief Minister also launched online services as part of the portal eservices.tn.gov.in wherein field measurement sketches and block maps in 43 taluks across 21 districts have been computerised in the first phase.

The digitisation of field measurement sketches and block maps (for urban areas) with COLLABLAND software commenced in Perambalur district in 2004 and of the total 55.33 lakh sketches, 54.12 lakh sketches have been digitised, the release stated.

The digitising of the remaining maps is expected to be completed within June.

Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar, Chief Secretary (additional charge) K. Shanmugam and Revenue Secretary B. Chandra Mohan were among those present at the event.

Graphic points
Chennai district earlier: 178sq. km.
Expanded Chennai district: 426 sq. km.
Total number of taluks in expanded district: 16
Total number of revenue villages in expanded district: 122
North Chennai zone: 5 taluks, 32 revenue villages
Central Chennai zone: 6 taluks, 47 revenue villages
South Chennai zone: 5 taluks, 43 revenue villages