Drone survey to map Tambaram OSR lands

Chennai: Tambaram Corporation will launch a 25-lakh drone survey to map Open Space Reservation (OSR) lands, reclaim encroached plots and convert neglected spaces into community spaces. The survey will create a digital database of OSR lands to monitor violations and strengthen urban planning efforts, officials said.
"Tambaram is a growing suburb and mapping OSR plots will help ensure they're reclaimed and developed for residents," said corporation commissioner S Balachander. Restrictions on OSR lands limit their usage. "They cannot be sold or commercially developed and must follow urban planning guidelines. We will draft a blueprint and seek approval from the state in the coming months," he added.
However, the plan has drawn criticism from former municipal officials, who argue that spending 25 lakh to document OSR lands highlights administrative lapses. "It's sad the local body has no record of OSR lands handed over by layout promoters. Spending taxpayers' money to conduct a drone survey to identify its own lands is unacceptable," said D S Sivasamy, former additional director of municipal administration. "Tambaram Corporation can get missing records from planning authorities such as CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority) or DTCP (Directorate of Town and Country Planning)," Sivasamy added.
But some experts hope to see changes with the new survey. Neglected OSR lands are a problem in growing suburbs, said city-based urban planner R Lakshmanan. Parks, open-air gyms, gardens and walking paths are among options that could improve residents' quality of life, he added.
For years, residents flagged the misuse of vacant plots, many of which turned into dumping grounds.
"Two OSR plots in my neighbourhood are filled with garbage and construction debris. Another has turned into a parking lot," said N Priya, member of the residents and plot owners welfare association, Perungalathur.