AI integration and rope car at Marina part of 90 announcements by Mayor for FY2026-27

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The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) intends to adopt Artificial Intelligence to improve local administration in the city, Mayor R. Priya said at the GCC Budget session for FY 2026-27 held at the Ripon Buildings on Wednesday. This was among the 90 announcements made at the session.

Another key announcement was a rope car at the Marina under the PPP mode, based on the proposal of DMK councillor from Anna Nagar T.V. Shemmozhi. The project, which will connect the Light House to former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai’s memorial is estimated at ₹78 crore.

The GCC will establish an Urban Data Observatory using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of a ₹5-crore project to improve local administration and service delivery by analysing city-wide data for better decision-making, Ms. Priya said. The civic body allocated ₹2 crore for a drone-based AI monitoring system to conduct aerial surveys for property tax assessment and to identify unauthorised constructions across the city, she added.

Further, ₹1 crore would be spent on AI software and equipment to provide automated analysis of reports from seven mobile X-ray machines across 15 health centres, with one centre located in each medical district, she said.

In the education sector, she said temporary physical education teachers would be appointed in 180 schools with a strength of over 100 students, with an allocation of ₹3.65 crore. To provide psychological support for adolescents, 17 counsellors would be appointed to 46 high schools on a consolidated pay basis for 10 months, she said.

Renovation and colour coding of 250 schools at ₹20 crore, higher education coaching for Class 12 students at ₹6 crore, ‘Smart Classroom’ facilities for primary and middle schools at ₹10.22 crore, electrical maintenance in 417 schools at ₹15 crore, reconstruction and additional classrooms at ₹40 crore, and yoga and self-defence training distribution of dictionaries, provision of furniture and shoe racks, procurement of 11 buses, establishment of a Modern Science Centre, expansion of special schools to 14 zones, and bridge courses for migrant children in three schools were announced.

She also announced a ₹1-crore project to procure 50,000 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) kits for cervical cancer screening across 360 health centres, including 140 Urban Primary Health Centres, 19 Urban Community Health Centres, 200 Health and Wellness Centres, and the Communicable Diseases Hospital. The samples will be tested at the hospital’s RTPCR laboratory to ensure early detection of the virus.

To tackle the upcoming summer, GCC will provide buttermilk to sanitary workers, she said.

Infra improvements

Small-scale biogas plants will be set up at 49 integrated kitchens through a private party or an NGO.

Inclusive parks for children with disabilities will be developed at five locations for ₹10 crore, 50 playgrounds will be upgraded for ₹20 crore, and 200 parks will be scientifically renovated in the first phase at ₹60 crore.

Sponge park systems will be installed in 25 parks for ₹5 crore, rainwater harvesting structures in 200 parks for ₹20 crore, and ECO BLOC-based storage tanks at five major grounds for ₹25 crore. A Green Chennai Scheme will be launched with ₹10 crore allocation.

Other announcements include electric vehicle charging stations across the city, a Smart Parking system at 25 locations for ₹2 crore, and ₹725.06 crore for bus route roads and modernisation of bus stands.

Transit hubs will be upgraded for multi-modal integration and Safe Routes to Schools will be developed. ₹85.03 crore has been allocated for the Blue Beach initiative and ₹48 lakh for eco-restoration of Nolambur Lake.

Escalators will be installed at subways and skywalks, a new bridge connecting Ennore High Road and Manali High Road will be built at ₹40 crore, and 2,850 galvanised compactor bins will be procured for ₹12 crore in Tondiarpet, Ambattur and Anna Nagar Zones.

Further digital upgrades include the development of a ‘New Chennai Mobile App’ at ₹25 lakh and a WhatsApp-based automatic reminder system for tax and license renewals.