Pilot land pooling project planned on Chennai's outskirts

Ahead of finalising the rules for land pooling, the state government is testing them by acquiring land near Chennai for a residential project. The housing and urban development department has zeroed in on land parcels between Vandalur and Kundrathur adjoining Outer Ring Road (ORR) for the pilot project. Official sources said the effort is to get the public to participate voluntarily. "We have not decided on the quantum of land. But, what we are looking at is that land owners volunteer their property for the project and a portion of the land will be returned as a developed plot," a senior official in the housing and urban development department told. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) could be floated for executing the land pooling project. "The project could be executed either by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB), Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) or public-private participation through an SPV," the official added. Interestingly, authorities want to explore land pooling before rules for the scheme are framed. Sources said land parcels between Chennai bypass and ORR are being looked at.