From The Hindu archives, April 8, 1976: “City within city” in Government Estate

Madras, April 7: The Madras Metropolitan Development Authority is likely to take up special projects like development of a city centre in the Government Estate on Anna Salai and a commercial centre abutting the Quaide Millat College for women.

Draft proposals for these areas are ready and are being forwarded to the Tamil Nadu Government for its consideration.

It is proposed to develop the area inside Government Estate (27 hectares) in a big way as a shopping and office complex.

At present, this location is cluttered by miscellaneous uses and lends itself for redevelopment.

There will be business and commercial offices facing Anna Salai and Wallajah Road with a city centre complex built around Rajaji Hall and Kalaivanar Arangam. Residential accommodation will also be provided to make this area a “city within a city”. Details are being worked out.

It is proposed to prohibit location of cinemas and other similar uses which generate peak pedestrian flows three or four times a day on the western side of the road. Since the city centre will be coming up, the planners feel that it is necessary to ensure a very high level of architectural standard. Not only the facade of the buildings require to be controlled but also the bulk and shape of the buildings in the area need to be regulated.

Being a shopping centre it is proposed to permit arcaded verandahs of approved design which would be three metres wide within the front area.