Minister for housing and urban development S Muthusamy, who is the chairman of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), discussed the expansion of the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) during his first review meeting of the planning authority on Friday.
While the CMDA officials were directed to ensure that planning permissions must be issued within 60 days and avoid delays, upkeep of the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex was also discussed.
The minister told that issues pertaining to the third masterplan for the CMA was taken up for the discussion.
“A decision on the areas that can be added and keeping some areas outside the purview of the CMA will be taken after discussing the practical difficulties and eliciting the views of residents in the respective localities,” he said.
Expansion of the CMA has been hanging balance over whether the proposed 8,878 square kilometre comprising the entire Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts and parts of Ranipet district could be added to the metropolis for about three years. Currently, the CMA spans for a distance of 1,189 square kilometre covering Chennai and suburbs.
Muthusamy said officials had been directed to prepare the third masterplan such that a new masterplan is in place for 2026. The validity of the second masterplan ends by 2026.