In all the excitement of the recent political developments, and the euphoria of a new dispensation in place, it must not be forgotten that life in our city, namely Madras that is Chennai, needs to go on. And a key factor in ensuring that this proceeds on an even keel is the master plan. Not many may be aware that the Second Master Plan of the CMDA expires this year and a third one needs to be notified. However, though this document has been in preparation since 2020, there is no sign of it being made public.
The track record of our Master Plans has not been very good to say the least. The first was formulated in 1976 by the then MMDA and was supposed to last for 20 years. It envisaged the development of satellite towns, the decongestion of the core city, and creation of several amenities across the entire metropolis and the greater metropolitan area for a population of 7.1 million people by 1996. However, in implementation, the first master plan failed miserably. The satellite towns did not take off, and as for the core city, decongesting efforts were stymied by legal tangles, and political interference. The population continued to grow.
The Second Master Plan, which ideally should have come into existence in 1996, was released only in 2008. It envisaged a growth of the city to 330 square kilometres by 2026. However the actual area even in 2016 was 450 square kilometres! It mooted the idea of mixed zoning in order to ensure better utilization of land space. What has happened in reality is that this has destroyed the fabric of the city, by converting desirable residential areas into commercial spaces and driving more and more core residents into the peripheral areas of the city. This has only added to pockets of congestion. The Second Master Plan, which also addressed the issue of slums, could not come up with a practical solution.
The CMDA had also mandated that all master plans had to be reviewed once every five years. This too has not happened. As a consequence, any new master plan that is developed will remain out of date with the city’s development. While both the master plans professed high ideals, they were found woefully inadequate in implementation and what is more, toothless in the face of systemic corruption. The result has been there for all to see – rampant illegal construction, failed infrastructure and degraded waterways and environment.
In the light of all this it is very doubtful whether the Third Master Plan, to be notified in 2026, will at all be a relevant document. However, its absence does not make matters easier, for unless there is a planning document in place, no sustained development of infrastructure can happen, however little that may be. A key aspect to master plans is public consultation, once the draft document is released. This has to involve all stakeholders and if it is to be a serious exercise, it needs time. That in itself has not happened so far. Therefore the final master plan is unlikely to be released in 2026 and the city will continue to go in its historic unplanned fashion. The Government may also plan to rush the draft and consultations to follow, making it a sham process. In which case too, the Master Plan will lack teeth. It will affect the quality of life for each one of us, and the sooner we wake up to it, the better. Let us see if the new dispensation proves us wrong and gives us a worthwhile master plan.