Three major open spaces in Chennai — Elango Nagar in Padi, Secretariat Colony in Thoraipakkam and an open space reservation site near Vyasarpadi Jeeva Railway Station — are to be developed into sponge parks by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).
“Site areas may be modified after final departmental clearances. Private consultants are to be roped in to come up with a design for these parks,” according to a CMDA official. This will be part of a larger Blue-Green Infrastructure plan announced in the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025–26.
The detailed designs are to transform these parcels into open public spaces with innovative features that combine stormwater management, ecological restoration and recreational amenities. This will restore the urban landscape’s water absorption capacity while making the areas accessible, inclusive and aesthetic. The project will progress in four stages — inception, concept planning, detailed project reporting and implementation support. “Plans will incorporate elements such as water retention and filtration systems, constructed wetlands (man-made marshland), bioswales or a ‘plant ditch’, reed beds, and landscaped zones for leisure and community interaction.
The proposed amenities for public usage include entrance plazas, tree courts, play areas, gardens, observation decks, open-air theatre, and a habitat centre for birds and aquatic species,” an official said. “The private consultants to be roped in for the design process will assess micro-climatic conditions, land use, surrounding precincts and ecological history, alongside hydrological modelling, soil testing, and community engagement,” he added. As part of the concept planning stage, a traffic survey will be conducted at mid-blocks and junctions around each site to record current traffic flow and project future volumes.
“The development will proceed through phases covering inception, concept planning, detailed project reporting and implementation supervision,” the official mentioned.
Published – August 11, 2025 12:31 am IST
