Chennai: A billboard and arch welcome visitors to the Thirumazhisai Satellite Township. Beyond it lies a vast expanse of vacant land dotted with grazing cattle, mounds of garbage and overgrown vegetation. More than two decades after Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) announced plans for a satellite township here, little has changed on the ground. Yet, a few kilometres away, private developers are building several thousand housing units and plotted developments. The contrast is hard to miss.
Delays and Legal Battles
Conceived in the 1990s across nearly 1,600 acres, the TNHB project ran into land acquisition disputes and legal battles, leaving the agency with 466 acres by 2007. After the 2015 floods, the housing board scaled down its immediate plans and focused on developing 123 acres in phases. Of this, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) used 34 acres for the Kuthambakkam terminus. “We have 98 acres left to develop. But progress is slow,” a TNHB official said.
Infrastructure Gaps
Officials say roads, drains and utility networks have been laid. But a visit to the site shows little evidence of a township taking shape. “Groundwater is available, but there is no underground sewer network. Residential development is growing much faster than civic infrastructure,” said a developer. The most visible structure today is the yet-to-be-opened Kuthambakkam bus terminus.
Expanded Vision Stalls
CMDA later expanded the vision, proposing a 1,600-acre ‘15-minute city’ spread across several villages in the western corridor. The idea was to create a self-contained urban hub where residents can easily access jobs, schools, healthcare and shopping. This plan too has struggled to move forward. Opposition from landowners to the proposed land-pooling scheme has slowed progress, leaving the larger satellite city proposal largely on paper.
Private Sector Surge
Private developers, however, have wasted little time. Industry estimates show that nearly 5,800 housing units are under construction in and around Thirumazhisai, and land prices have climbed to around ₹5,000 a sqft in some pockets. Developers say demand is being driven by the area’s location on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, its proximity to the Sriperumbudur manufacturing belt, the upcoming bus terminus, Metro Rail expansion plans and connectivity through the Outer Ring Road.
“Thirumazhisai today is at the stage in which Old Mahabalipuram Road and Outer Ring Road were a decade ago. As connectivity improves, the region is likely to emerge as one of Chennai’s major growth corridors,” said Sanjay Chugh, city head and director, Chennai, ANAROCK. Haresh Kishor, managing director of KG Foundations, said the locality offers a combination of affordability and accessibility. “Demand for plotted developments is also strong because property prices are still far lower than in established city locations,” he said.
Future Prospects
Ashwin Chendilnathan, managing director of Vijayaraja Homes and secretary of Credai’s youth wing, said the proposed Metro extension beyond Poonamallee could boost demand. “There is also potential for rental housing because of the proximity to hospitals, medical colleges and industrial establishments,” he said. TNHB officials said the board is preparing to seek fresh approval from CMDA to develop the remaining land with residential plots, apartment blocks and commercial facilities. “It will take at least a year before the project moves to the next stage,” an official said.
