Focus Areas
- Total Projects : 8
- Completed : 4
- In Progress : 3
- Tendering Stage : 1
Cycle sharing is a public transport system in which people have access to cycles that can be used across a network of closely spaced stations. With a smart card or other form of identification, a user can check out a cycle from a station and return it to any other station. The Corporation of Chennai (COC) is planning a public cycle sharing system with approximately 3,000 cycles and an initial coverage area of about 19 square kilometres.
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, has a population of 4.6 million, with nearly 9 million inhabitants in the larger metropolitan area.
1) The core city’s density is around 26,900 persons per sq km. Public transport in Chennai consists of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, suburban rail and MRTS. In addition, a 45 km metro rail network is under construction. Currently MTC has around 3,800 buses carrying 52 lakh passengers per day.
2) The three suburban rail lines and MRTS line comprise 123 km of corridors linking the city to suburban regions such as Tambaram, Thiruninravur, Velachery and Minjur.
3) A dense network of stations across the coverage area with spacing of approximately 300 m between stations.
4) Cycles with specially designed parts and sizes to discourage theft and sale as whole or for parts.
5) A fully automated locking system at stations that allows users to check cycles in or out without the need for staffing at the station.
6) Radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) to track where a cycle is picked up, where it is returned and the identity of the user.
7) Real-time monitoring of station occupancy rates through General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), used to guide the redistribution of cycles.
8) Real-time user information provided through various platforms including the web, mobile phones and/or on-site terminals.
9) Advertising space on cycles and at stations (provides revenue generation options for system operator or city).
10) Pricing structures that incentivise short trips, helping to maximize the number of trips per cycle per day.
The main objective of the company will be to decongest commercial area and ease parking problems in key areas of the city. Official sources said that financing and revenue sharing models will be prepared by Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Fund Management Company after holding discussions with officials of CSCL and GCC.
The company will look at optimizing the limited space through creation of multi-level car parking. Many unutilised lands and property of GCC and government bodies will be promoted, maintained and monetised by the company. It is learnt that the government is planning to tap The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) lands in prime locations of the city as parking space.
Interestingly, Chennai was looking at having a parking management company after a high-level delegation visited Budapest five years ago. The delegation report then had highlighted how underground parking spaces were created in streets and busy junctions in Budapest.
Some of the features of Budapest parking management include charging vehicles for duration of parking, instead of a lump sum amount, besides having six options of paying parking fees, which include credit card, prepaid parking card, SMS and coins. Other features include charging high parking fee in the central business district.
Safe, modern and efficient public transport, like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, can help answer these problems. A mass rapid transport option, the BRT combines the efficiencies and quality of metro rails, with the flexibility and relative low cost of buses. And all of this can be executed at a fraction of the cost and effort that goes into constructing rail-based systems.
While high-capacity public transport solutions can move citizens across large distances within a city, good last-mile connectivity is important to make these systems accessible to more residents. This opportunity opened the way for Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS). Fast emerging as a popular public transit in Indian cities, it offers a dense network of stations and with a smart card, a user can check out a cycle from a station, use it for a short ride, and return it to any other station.
Upon implementation of the above, people will be able to –
- Pedestrianised Streets : 23 roads of T Nagar have been redesigned to include continuous footpaths with street furniture and provision of LED lights and bollards.
- Redesign of Major Roads : CSCL endeavours to redesign and develop select roads and market areas in its area which are future ready and in compliance with smart city program, which seamlessly complements NMT policy. First phase includes redevelopment of G.N.Road and Venkatnarayana Road in T Nagar.
- Pedestrian Plaza : The densely populated and crowded Pondy Bazaar area of T Nagar is being redeveloped to widen footpaths and reduce carriage way to make it a convenient stop-and-shop experience for citizens. The Plaza would be complete with aesthetically designed street furniture, trees and water fountains.
- Multi-level Car Parking: A multi-level car parking facility is being constructed at T Nagar to enable better traffic management and decongestion in the area.
- Parking Management System: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has initiated steps for implementation of Parking Management System (PMS) in Chennai City for improving the ‘On Street’ parking operations, optimum usage of the available parking space and enhancing overall function of street in the city for operating an effective implementation plan and by better enforcement against parking violations.
- Public Bicycle Sharing: Initiative to provide cycles-on-rent at identified cycle stations across the city for citizens to hire at a nominal user fee. Aims to decongest roads and promote a healthier, greener lifestyle amongst citizens.
- Bicycle Lanes: Providing exclusive cycle lane across a 17 km stretch to make the roads safer for everyone, especially cyclists. Encourage cycling as an effective and efficient mode of transportation optimal for short to moderate distances.
- Intelligent Traffic Management System: This project has two sub-systems - Intelligent Traffic Management and Intelligent Transport Management. Traffic management is to control traffic through adaptive systems which includes configuration of traffic signal at each of the junction along with development of signal control plan for individual operations. Transport Management refers to management of transport (buses) infrastructure by developing an electronic ticketing system, monitoring vehicular movement, passenger information system, fleet management system etc.
We will continue to explore and formulate initiatives to –
- 80% of Bus Route Roads to have continuous footpath in line with the Non-Motorised Transport Policy.
- Reduce pedestrian and cyclist inconvenience by providing complete network of footpath and cycle corridors across the city.
- To invest 60% of city's transport budget on NMT infrastructure.
- Provide multi-modal transport integration to encourage use of public transport and NMT facilities.
- Seamless traffic and transport movement through intelligent systems for signals, passenger information, bus fleet management etc.
- Total Projects : 6
- Completed : 2
- In Progress : 3
- Tendering Stage : 1
In the last decade, India urbanized quicker (2.4%) than the world average (2.1%). India is projected to add 404 more a million urban dwellers by 2040. Urban areas provide hope and betterment but also bring with it a unique set multidimensional challenges. “Ease of living index”, attempts to bring the cities of India which are socially, culturally and economically diverse into one comparable data driven platform. Handy tool for policy-makers | Evidence based Policy Formulation | Inter City Comparison
Upon implementation of the above, people will be able to –
- Smart Class: 28 classrooms across Corporation schools in Chennai have been redesigned with Smart boards, tablets and external keyboards to provide virtual teaching and learning methods to the city's teachers and students.
- Namma Chennai App: An one-stop mobile app with 10 services for Corporation related processes, enquiries and complaints.
- Digital Experience Centre: A virtual learning and decision-making environment, with state-of-the-art technology to exhibit, monitor and innovate on Smart City projects.
- Integrated Command & Control Centre: A platform to unify and integrate several government verticals like disaster management, emergency response, waste management, etc. to facilitate precision analysis and efficient decision making.
- Intelligent Traffic Management System: Hi-tech system to redesign and develop transport and traffic systems for smoother flow, ease of communication for commute and fleet management.
- GIS Mapping of Utilities: Survey and integration of utilities through drone-mapping and geo-informatic systems for better urban planning and city-level administration.
We will continue to explore and formulate initiatives to –
- Make Chennai the most liveable and sustainable city in the world.
- Provide dynamic and accountable platforms for citizen engagement
- Create 100% e-governance systems, ranging from disaster management to citizen greivance redressal to emergency services.
- Total Projects : 5
- Completed : 4
- In Progress : 1
After the recent floods, most Chennaiites have undergone the experience of living in an unplanned city. As the city grew, it occupied most of the water bodies. Though we cant change the plan of the city, here are some ways in which we can make the city ready for any eventuality due to incessant rain. We have made technical and non-technical solutions. We want to gather civil engineers and other like-minded people to be a part of them as a team and find the best solutions. This is an initiation to go further and make Chennai a flood-proof city in the future.
Here are the technical solutions.
1. Improve flood water disposal system.
2. Construct retaining walls and use sandbags.
3. Release water from reservoir after studying areas.
Urban green spaces create great cities where built environment as well as natural environment and the the natural environments are interwoven. However, sometimes creating green spaces are considered as a challenge, particularly in developing countries, where there is pressure for space, resources and development. The world’s cities are becoming increasingly congested and polluted. Urban green spaces provide a wide range of ecosystem services that could help combat many urban ills and improve life for city dwellers.
The definition of urban green spaces which is agreed on by ecologists, economists, social scientists and planners: “They are public and private open spaces in urban areas, primarily covered by vegetation which is directly or indirectly available for users (Haq, 2011). In another way, it is the land that consists predominantly of unsealed, permeable, “soft” surfaces such as soil, grass, shrubs and trees. It is the umbrella term for all such areas whether or not they are publicly accessible or publicly managed. It includes all areas of parks, play areas and other green spaces specifically intended for recreational use as well as other green spaces with other origins (Dunnett, Swanwick and Woolley, 2002).
Upon implementation of the above, people will be able to –
- Retrofitting Green Open Spaces: 8 parks of T Nagar have been redesigned to make them energy efficient, inclusive, vibrant and greener.
- Sensory Park: A unique initiative that caters for outdoor recreational needs for all age groups and abilities.
- Traffic Park: A model park for children to learn regarding traffic rules and regulations.
- Restoration of Waterbodies: 210 waterbodies, including 15 temple tanks, have been identified and are being restored by GCC and CSCL. Activities including desilting, boundary wall creation, clearing of debris and encroachment, apart from landscaping.
- Vertical Gardens: An innovative urban design to reduce the traffic heat-island effect, by creating gardens on piers of flyovers in T Nagar area.
We will continue to explore and formulate initiatives to –
- Provide Chennaiites with world-class luxurious public spaces for recreation and community activities.
- Improve environment quality in the city like air, water and soil and provide healthier living conditions for the public.
- Rejuvenating the city's water systems through complete recharge of ground water, harvesting of rain water and recycling of graywater
- Ensure complete and fully sustainable solid waste and wastewater management to tackle challenges of landfills and different pollutions.
- Total Projects : 4
- DPR Prep : 2
- In Progress : 3
- Tendering Stage : 1
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Upon implementation of the above, people will be able to –
- Meter for CMWSSB Tanker Filling Post: The CMWSSB has proposed to procure and install 191 Filling Post Control Unit and Smart Card based Online Monitoring System in 41 filling stations.
- Electromagnetic meters for bulk water supply: The CMWSSB has proposed to procure and install 251 electronic flow meters of different sizes in the pumping mains and service reservoir outlets to monitor the quantity pumped and quantity distributed.
- Connecting Missing Links of Storm Water Drains: To construct missing links or improve defunct drains at 335 locations to prevent flooding of roads. Additionally, rainwater harvesting and recharge systems to be provided at 30m intervals.
- Providing 24/7 Water Supply for T Nagar: Establishing 19 District Metered Areas to augment water supply for T Nagar. Renewal of 30% house service connections and ensure metering in 100% connections.
- Electromagnetic flow meter for Smart Consumer: CMWSSB has proposed to install AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) meters with data capture by wireless system using long range gateways in two phases and thereby increase the revenue. In first phase, it is proposed to install AMR meters in 12,708 house connections.
We will continue to explore and formulate initiatives to –
- To meet 135 LPCD supply as per Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs guidelines.
- To provide 24/7 uninterrupted water supply to all households, at 100% quality.
- To completely avoid flooding and loss of running stormwater.
- To have 100% efficiency in pressure, flow and water quality monitoring.
- Total Projects : 5
- Completed : 2
- In Progress : 3
1. No Scheduled power outages in the city
2. Unscheduled power outages has reduced to 4,677 Hrs (2014) from 6,920 Hrs(2012)
3. Average Response Time for Power Outage in HT supply failure - 1hr, customer service connection - 3hrs & failure of distribution transformer is 24Hrs.
4. 55 Smart Meters introduced in 2015 on pilot basis.
5. AT&C losses reduced to 17.61%, to be <15% after completion of R-APDRP program.
5. Renewable Energy Installed Capacity(2015):
- Rooftop Solar = 358.26MW;Biomass = 230MW (Full Capacity);
- Bagasse based Cogen = 659.4MW; Wind = 7,498.55 MW, Source: TANGEDCO
There is an ever increasing demand for energy in spite of the rising prices of oil & other fossil fuel / depletion of fossil fuels. Energy demand, in particular electricity production has resulted in creation of fossil fuel based power plants that let out substantial green house gas / carbon emission into the atmosphere causing climate change and global warming.
The Government of Tamil Nadu is committed to mitigate the climate change effects by bringing out policies conducive to promote renewable energy generation in the State. The Government intends to make renewable energy a people’s movement just like rain water harvesting.
The state is blessed with various forms of renewable energy sources viz., Wind, Solar, Biomass, Biogas, Small Hydro, etc. Municipal and Industrial wastes could also be useful sources of energy while ensuring safe disposal.
Renewable Energy (RE) sources provide a viable option for on/off grid electrification & wide industrial applications
Even as the Union government is giving laying huge thrust on turning all types of transaction cashless, the Tamil Nadu government has announced that a multi-purpose utility ‘smart card’ would be introduced in Chennai city to enable payment of bus fare, power bill and the Corporation-levied taxes.
The Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development, SP Velumani, on Wednesday made an announcement about the proposed smart card in the Assembly at the end of a two-day debate on the demands for grants to his departments.
“The people in Chennai can utilise smart cards to pay bus fare on vehicles operated by Metro Transport, power bill and charges for drinking water and sewerage connections,” he told the Assembly.
These apart, the Chennaiites can also swipe the cards to pay property tax and profession tax levied by the Corporation without much hassles, he added.
Upon implementation of the above, people will be able to –
- Solar Rooftop in Government Buildings:All Government and Local Body buildings would be fitted with solar rooftops, expected to bring in annual savings of INR 1.7 crores from renewable energy.
- Conversion of Sodium Vapour Lamps to LED lights: 1772 lights in T Nagar area have been converted leading to savings of Rs 9.6 crore per annum.
- Redevelopment of Kannamapettai Crematorium: Modifying and converting existing crematorium at Kannamapettai to give the public a cleaner and energy-efficient option.
- Smart Meters in T Nagar: TANGEDCO, through Chennai Smart City Limited, intends to implement Smart Meters with AMI (Automated Infra Structure) system under Chennai Smart City Schemes in T.Nagar under Area Based Development (ABD), on mixed/hybrid communication technology. The solution is prepared to adopt RF mesh network for thickly populated areas and Cellular network (GPRS /3G/4G) for areas with scattered population.
- Water Hyacinth to Biogas Plant: GCC on a trial basis has proposed to install one 5 ton/day capacity bio gas plant in a land identified in division 18, Zone 2. The harvested water hyacinth will be crushed and made into slurry and fed to the digesters and using specific microbes, the slurry is digested and gas is produced. The bio gas produced will be used for generating power through a specially designed gas generator.
We will continue to explore and formulate initiatives to –
- Introduction of microgrid based distribution management system
- Convert all overhead lines to underground cables with RFID tagging.
- Introduction of smart bi-directional meters for 100% households.
- Augmenting use of solar power even for residential purpose