Boost to housing, infrastructure in Chennai.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa recently unveiled new housing and infrastructure projects at a cost of over Rs. 1000 crore mainly for Chennai.

The projects include a 222-acre self-sufficient habitation at Kadambur near Maraimalai Nagar, reconstruction of 534 Slum Clearance Board flats at Nochikuppam and 10,000 flats in Chennai and other cities.

Ms. Jayalalithaa told the Assembly that the projects were necessary to keep pace with urbanisation and to meet the requirements of ever-increasing population.

She said that under the slum-free city scheme implemented jointly by the State government and the Centre, 10,000 flats in multi-storey buildings would be constructed in Chennai and other cities in the first phase.

The project cost is Rs. 825 crore and 50 per cent of the funds would come from the Centre and 40 per cent from the State government. The beneficiaries would bear just 10 per cent of the cost.

The Chief Minister said she had increased the area of every flat to 397 sq feet last year and now it would further be increased to 400 sq feet. Besides ceiling fans and electric lights, the flats would get all the basic amenities including street-lights, drinking water supply, sewage canals and other social infrastructure.

THE HINDU