writingonblog uncensored: Forged document exposes irregularities in Rs 1,000...

writingonblog uncensored: Forged document exposes irregularities in Rs 1,000...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Church  property worth more than thousand crore in Irumbiliyur village in Kanchipuram district allegedly exchanged ha...

Forged document exposes irregularities in Rs 1,000 crore Irumbuliyur Church land sale

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Church property worth more than thousand crore in Irumbiliyur village
in Kanchipuram district allegedly exchanged hands without a title deed
and a forged document.

The 53 acres and 14 cents property belong to Roman Catholic Christians
of Kovalam and Brother Thomas of Kilachery. It was gifted to the then
diocese of Mylapore as a charitable settlement in 1920.
Documents revealed that the land was transferred to a real estate
agency by Chengalpet Diocese, which came into existence in 2002. The
diocese transferred the land to real estate firm Om Sakthi Agencies
allegedly without any title deed and based on a forged document with a
fictitious administrator of properties, a church official said.

According to a General Power of Attorney document which was accessed
by Express, then archbishop of archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore society
A M Chinappa executed the general power of attorney on August 9, 2011
by mentioning now parish priest Don Bosco, who was then property
administrator of the archdiocese,  as one of the lawful agent to do
all acts deeds and things on his behalf.

But then the land was transferred to Om Sakthi Agencies by Chengalpet
diocese on the basis of a letter written by a fictitious John Bosco,
who claims to be administrator of properties of archdiocese of
Madras-Mylapore Society.

As per the letter of correspondence to Cyril raj, property
administrator of diocese of Chengalpet, John Bosco okayed transfer of
land in Irumbuliyur  in Kancheepuram district.

“There is no John Bosco. It is only Don Bosco, who is named as the
agent. They have forged the documents,” says former bureaucrat and a
member of the Federation of the  Catholic Faithful M G Devasahayam.

But when Express contacted reverend Cyril Raj, he said that the issue
has been raked up again. He said there has been a spelling mistake in
the document. Don Bosco signed the agreement, he said.

Don Bosco who is now a parish priest says that the whole document was
forged. “Police had come to my place investigating the case and I told
them it is a forged signature besides even the name in the document is
fake,” he said.

When Cyril was told about the allegations, he reacted that he will
talk to Don Bosco. Interestingly, the police did not investigate the
the complaint filed with DIG of police in-charge of land related
crimes by C K Dominic Savio, president of Chengalpet Diocese Catholic
Welfare Association on July 30, 2012.

Devasahayam said that the police turned a blind eye to the forgery
case. “They did not send the document to forensics department to
check whether the signature is fake or not,” alleged Devasahayam.

However, he parried away further queries over the illegal sale of the
church property. When Express contacted then archbishop Chinappa about
the sale of the property, he said he had given the power of attorney
to Don Bosco. But parried away queries regarding the sale of the land.

Chengalpet diocese Bishop Dr A Neethinathan refuted the allegations
over irregularities in the land deal. “We will come out with a
detailed report in this regard,” he said. “These are all baseless
allegations,” he stated.

Devasahayam alleged that Chengalpet diocese created a fraudulent deed
of agreement of sale executed by Neethinathan, Bishop of Chengalpet
diocese with Om Sakthi Agencies by producing a fraudulent no objection
letter.

Federation of the Catholic Faithful is seeking an independent Church
commission comprising of eminent priests and administrators to probe
the issue.  The archbishop of archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore Society
could not be contacted for his reactions. The property is meant for
upliftment of poor, widows and orphan children.

writingonblog uncensored: Your tooth is the cure to neural disorders!

writingonblog uncensored: Your tooth is the cure to neural disorders!: Chennai: Your tooth can be the cure to your neural disorders. Researchers have found that the tooth pulp in center of teeth holds enormous ...

Your tooth is the cure to neural disorders!

Chennai:

Your tooth can be the cure to your neural disorders. Researchers have
found that the tooth pulp in center of teeth holds enormous potential
to cure neural disorders including Alzheimer’s, according to noted
Indian scientist A Sivathanu Pillai.

Delivering the inaugural address of the 27th Annual Conference of
Indian Society for Dental Research (ISDR) here on Friday, the
scientist said that studies have shown that stem cells in the human
exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) has the ability to develop into more
types of body tissues than other types of stem cells.

He said researchers have found the pulp of exfoliated deciduous teeth
to contain chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, and mesenchymal stem
cells.

All of these cell types hold enormous potential for the therapeutic
treatment of neuronal degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, and chronic heart conditions such as congestive heart
failure and chronic ischemic heart disease.

The scientist, who is also former chief controller, Research and
Development in Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), said
that DRDO’s team of dental research has come out with surface modified
nickel titanium orthodontic arch wires which holds promise in the
treatment of edentulous. He also highlighted the role of Indian
society of dental Research in removing the toxic effect of excess
fluoride in drinking water particularly in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The scientist also said that convergence of nano-bio-info would
significantly help cure deadly diseases and replace defective parts so
that human being can be defect free.

“India can generate valuable researchers in Indian institutions
provided we establish advanced research laboratories,” the scientist
added.

writingonblog uncensored: IMU director suspended after CBI chargesheet

writingonblog uncensored: IMU director suspended after CBI chargesheet: Chennai: The director of Indian Maritime University, Chennai Campus, P Vijayan has been suspended after criminal proceedings were initiated...

IMU director suspended after CBI chargesheet

Chennai:

The director of Indian Maritime University, Chennai Campus, P Vijayan
has been suspended after criminal proceedings were initiated against
him by Central Bureau of Investigation in the disproportionate assets
case.

A Indian Maritime University order issued by registrar C Mohan stated that
Vijayan is placed under suspension with immediate effect in view of
the criminal proceedings against him for corruption and possession of
assets disproportionate to his known sources of income pending a
decision in the criminal case.

This comes after joint director of CBI anti-corruption bureau wrote a
letter on September 24 nto vice-chancellor of IMU informing that a
chargesheet was filed against P Vijayan on September 23, 2014 besides
furnishing a copy of the same.

Even the Shipping Ministry has accorded sanction for initiation of
regular disciplinary action for major penalty by the IMU against
Vijayan for non-intimation of large number of transactions of sale and
purchase of immovable properties and huge borrowings and also
declaring income under Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme.

During the period of suspension, Vijayan shall be stationed in Chennai
and shall not leave headquarters without the prior written permission
of the vice-chancellor. “He sall be eligible for subsistence allowance
as per norms,” the registrar said

writingonblog uncensored: Avadi municipality’s “erroneous” RTI info puts off...

writingonblog uncensored: Avadi municipality’s “erroneous” RTI info puts off...: C Shivakumar Chennai: After dilly dallying on providing information under the RTI act, Avadi Municipality  exposed itself to trouble b...

Avadi municipality’s “erroneous” RTI info puts officials in trouble

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

After dilly dallying on providing information under the RTI act, Avadi
Municipality  exposed itself to trouble by providing erroneous
information on roads being laid in four streets in ward number 27.

Mohammed Iliyaas of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam in a Right To Information
(RTI) application sought details of works completed in Avadi
municipality. However, the information was denied and Avadi
municipality provided information about a single ward (Ward number
27).

In the information it was revealed that roads were laid in Alagirisamy
Street, Kalaignar Street, Mayor Stalin Street, Velayutham Street,
K.V.K.Samy Street.

It was revealed that amount of Rs 14 lakh was spent in laying Cement
Concrete Road with storm water drain at Alagirisamy Street, a Cement
Concrete Road worth 4.7 lakh at Mayor Stalin Street, a cement concrete
road worth Rs 4 lakh at Kalaignar Street and a Cement Concrete Road at
KVK street worth Rs 20 lakh.

Later Iliyas along with Satta Panchayat Iyakam president Siva Ilango
visited the spot to find that there were no roads laid in the four
streets.

“The roads are laid only on paper not on those streets,” said Iliyas
while highlighting the condition of roads in the area. “We demand that
legal action should taken against the officials who has approved the
payment for these unlaid roads. We are exposing this during the
Vigilance Awareness Week,” he said.

Interestingly, Avadi Municipal Commissioner Sivasubramanian denied the
allegations of any irregularities. However, he did accept that roads
were not laid in the four streets and blamed it on clerical error on
part of the official providing RTI information.

“This is a packaged work. We did take up works on nearby streets. The
work on the four streets would be completed after the monsoon. The
work was not taken up since the work on underground sewage network as
well as water connections were not completed,” Sivasubramanian said.

Interestingly, Satta Panchayat Iyakkam has proposed of allocating a
particular number to a road online so that details regarding when it
was laid, contract amount, contractor name, minimum guarantee period
could be accessed. All the roads in the Corporation or Municipalities
can be given a Number like (CH001, CH001..etc).

If an SMS is sent to this number, with road number, the details should
be immediately sent to the citizen immediately. By having this system,
all the citizen will be able to have quick access to data regarding
their local roads. This technological system will enable citizen to
fight against corruption. This data can be also made available in
website.

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Rail stations to sport snazzy look

writingonblog uncensored: Metro Rail stations to sport snazzy look: Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail is planning to make its stations livelier and bustling with activity unlike the MRTS stations which are holl...

Metro Rail stations to sport snazzy look

Chennai:

Chennai Metro Rail is planning to make its stations livelier and
bustling with activity unlike the MRTS stations which are hollow and
lifeless structures.

Chennai Metro Rail sources said that work has already been started in
this regard and tenders are being floated to grant licensing rights of
built up shops or office spaces for three Chennai Metro Rail stations
on the elevated stretch.

Bids have been invited for licensing of built-up shops or office
spaces in Koyambedu, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar, Chennai Metro Rail
sources said.

Sources said that a total of 3095 square metres area at locations in
street, concourse and link bridge of the three stations have been
opened for bidding.

This built-up area shall present a unique opportunity for retail
players or offices and the vacant built-up space will be handed on “as
is where is basis.”

Interestingly, CMRL has put forth certain conditions for the
commercial units vying to occupy the space in the stations. One of the
conditions include ban on cooking using a gas cylinder. Only
electrical cooking or heating are permitted with prior written
permission from CMRL, CMRL sources said.

Sources said the licensing rights of built-up shops or office space
shall be for a period of 15 years and the the licensee shall have
option to exit from the License Agreement only after issue of six
month prior notice to CMRL.

Interestingly, Chennai Metro rail has also ensured precautionary
measures in the built-up space. It is providing Underground water tank
of  50,000 to 1 lakh litre capacity for fire safety in Koyambedu,
Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar elevated stations.

However, it has mandated the shop owners to ensure that fire alarm
system with internal fire safety arrangements like sprinklers, smoke
detectors within the License Spaces are put in place, CMRL sources
said.

Meanwhile, Chennai Metro Rail is planning for commercial development
along Koyambedu metro station and has invited bids from qualified
architects. The architect besides preparing a design or plan for
commercial development of the metro station also has to conduct a
survey. It include all necessary data related to the existing public
utility services, lines of streets and pavements, buildings lines,
adjoining properties, rights of lights, restrictions, easements, party
walls and boundaries.

This comes in the wake of Chennai Metro Rail planning its first
commercial run from Koyambedu metro station to Alandur next year. It
is planned that all new metro stations would have commercial
establishments, food courts, stalls and ATMs, CMRL sources said.

Centre to set up Rs 150 crore Technology Centre in TN

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Amidst the economic downturn, the micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSME) in the state has something to cheer about as Union government
is planning to set up Rs 150 crore technology centre in the state.

Speaking to Express on the sidelines of district level seminar on
Unemployment Youth Employment Generation Programme (UYEGP) and
Opportunities for New Entrepreneurs organized by Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), director of MSME
Development Institute S M Jamkhandi said that the hi-tech technology
centre is likely to come up in Chennai.

“The Union government selected three sites, including Coimbatore, but
I am in favour of having it in Chennai as it is the automobile hub
besides it also has a sea port,” he said.

“The Technology Centre is likely to come up in 20 acres of land. The
land is about to be finalized. This could be a New Year gift to Tamil
Nadu from the Centre,” Jamkhandi said.

The technology centre would be ready within three years once the land
as well as necessary clearances are obtained after which we will train
10,000 entrepreneurs, he said.

The technology centre would basically cater to aerospace sector as
well as automobile sector. “We are also planning to have flight
simulator in the centre which an ordinary SME can’t afford,” he said.

Interestingly, the technology centre in Tamil Nadu would be the third
in the country. Bangalore will be setting up a technology centre at
Devanahalli to cater to aerospace sector while the second one is
sanctioned for Pondichery.

He said the Union government has identified 76 new technologies for
entrepreneurs, who want to enter new verticals. He also highlighted
the contribution of Indian entrepreneurs in making the moon and Mars
mission successful. For Chandrayaan, the MSME sector provided 16.5 per
cent critical components while for Mangalyaan it contributed 12 per
cent of critical components.

Earlier, state rural industries and labour minister P Mohan
inaugurated the seminar and highlighted the achievements as well as
incentives to MSME sector. He highlighted that the state is pioneer in
New Entreprenuer-cum-Enterprise Development Scheme. MSME secretary
Rajesh Lakhoni, Industries Commissioner Swaran Singh, Chennai
collector E Sundaravalli and former bureaucrat advisor to FICCI
president P Murari were also present on the occasion.

writingonblog uncensored: CMDA plans to develop six OSR sites into sport com...

writingonblog uncensored: CMDA plans to develop six OSR sites into sport com...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has identified six large open space reservation (OSR) sites for devel...

CMDA plans to develop six OSR sites into sport complexes

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has identified six large
open space reservation (OSR) sites for developing sport facilities.

Sources said the plan to develop sports infrastructure facilities in
OSR areas in consultation with local body and Sports Development
authority of Tamil Nadu was taken keeping in mind the need for
recreation and sports.

As the city is lacking open spaces for recreation and sports due to
growing demand for land, sources said Chennai Metropolitan Development
Authority is planning to develop large open space reservation sites of
more than one acre into sports complex.

Sources told Express that CMDA has accorded sanction for six
sub-projects at a cost of Rs 1.54 crore. These projects have been
identified in Tondiarpet, Manapakkam, Mugalivakkam, Phoenix Mall,
Semenchery Village and Perungalathur village.

Sources said CMDA has evolved a guideline wherein the local bodies in
consultation with Sports Development Authority of tamil nadu will
implement the scheme with financial support from CMDA.

It is learnt that Chennai Corporation and Perungalathur town panchayat
are requested to furnish detailed technical design for sports
development facilities.

The development regulations of the second Master plan for Chennai
stipulates that in sites with an extent of 10,000 square metre or
more, 10 per cent of the area excluding road shall be reserved as Open
Space Reservation (OSR) and shall be transferred to the authority or
the local body designated.

Since the Second Master Plan in Chennai, 13,35553,111 square metre of
land has been marked as OSR. These OSR lands are maintained as parks
by the local body.

CMDA while sanctioning the planning proposal takes over these reserved
sites and hands it over to local bodies for development and
maintenance of parks and playfields.

Sources said the plan is to nurture the youngsters in various sports
and also provide them with sport infrastructure.

The identified six sites are:

1.  Door No 107 and 107, Cochrane Basin Road, Tondiarpet

2.  DLF Info City Developers, Manapakkam

3.  Annai Velankanni Nagar, Phase II, Main Road, Mugalivakkam,

4.  Velachery Main Road, Phoenix Mall]

5.  Semenchery Village (Jeppiar Educational Trust)

6.  S. No 367/1, A2 pt. Perungulathur Village

writingonblog uncensored: TNHB plans to woo private developers to build 61,7...

writingonblog uncensored: TNHB plans to woo private developers to build 61,7...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Tamil Nadu Housing Board has planned to construct and develop 61,737units across Tamil Nadu by 2022 and is seeki...

TNHB plans to woo private developers to build 61,737 housing units by 2022

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Housing Board has planned to construct and develop
61,737units across Tamil Nadu by 2022 and is seeking the help of
private developers in achieving the target.

TNHB sources told Express that it is not possible to fulfil the entire
housing needs of the economically weaker section and low income group
category of the society by the Government alone as it involves huge
resources and human resources.

TNHB sources said that TNHB is planning to seek participation of the
private developers in providing affordable housing and various
possibilities are being analysed which include increasing floor space
index to meet over short supply of land.

Other schemes to woo private developers include premium floor space
index for provision of economic weaker section and low income group
category without additional cost, providing basic building materials
such as cement and steel at controlled rates besides waiver of service
tax, concession in housing loan interest and suitable amendment in new
land acquisition act for alienation of land exclusively for EWS and
LIG.

Interestingly, TNHB also feels necessary research and development has
to be done for searching alternative low cost building materials which
is locally available for achieving affordable housing.

Source said that these new building material has to be to be included
in State Public Works Department Schedule of Rates (SSR). TNHB is
planning adoption of mass construction of housing using factory made
precast structures. It is learnt that TNHB has started implementing
the scheme by adopting this technique in Chennai suburban areas.

Sl. No.	Year	Units
1	2014-15	5211
2	2015-16	6287
3	2016-17	8771
4	2017-18	12725
5	2018-19	11026
6	2019-20	9997
7	2020-21	3466
8	2021-22	4254
	Total	61737

 

writingonblog uncensored: CMDA expands enforcement cell; launches month long...

writingonblog uncensored: CMDA expands enforcement cell; launches month long...: Chennai: Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is launching a month-long special enforcement drive by setting up four teams to mon...

CMDA expands enforcement cell; launches month long special enforcement drive

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is launching a month-long
special enforcement drive by setting up four teams to monitor all
approved plans stage wise.

Sources told Express this comes in the wake of Moulivakkam building
collapse as well as at a time when CMDA is facing legal battles on
failure to initiate action against illegal buildings.

Sources said that CMDA is planning to add teeth to its enforcement
cell, which is working 10 times less than the manpower required to
carryout the enforcement action in Chennai Metropolitan Area, by
adding two more enforcement action wing.

Earlier the enforcement cell had two enforcement action wing and two
completion certificate wing. Now it will have four enforcement action
wings and two completion certificate wings. It is learnt that every
wing will have to lock and seal two buildings week.

Two of the enforcement action wings will take care of illegal
developments in South Chennai while one each will take of illegal
buildings in North and Central Chennai.

Interestingly, this also brings to question is CMDA trying to wrest
back power and authority of enforcement action it had given to local
bodies. Sources say the local bodies have also failed in taking
enforcement action and some like panchayats are openly flouting the
development regulations.

It is learnt that the measure by CMDA would fail to make an impact as
CMDA enforcement cell is working with a manpower which is 10 times
less than the required manpower.

As per the rough estimate made in 2007, there were three lakh building
in Chennai Metropolitan Area constructed unauthorisedly in deviation
to the approved plan but with a strength of 45 in the enforcement
action wing, it is highly unlikely that action could be taken against
these illegal buildings, CMDA sources said.

Despite recommendations by a committee to strengthen the enforcement
cell by adding more staff, there has been no action to fill up the
staff posing threat to the enforcement of development regulations.

Interestingly, CMDA as a whole has inadequate manpower. The total
additional staff proposals received from various units of CMDA works
out to 775 and the Committee, after taking into account the
requirements, has recommended the additional requirement to the tune
of 433 in various categories.  The present staff strength of CMDA is
around 650. The recommendation was made in 2009 when the staff
strength was 850.

DMK regime offered sops worth Rs 645.4 cr for Nokia SEZ

CHENNAI:

The DMK regime in Tamil Nadu under M Karunanidhi granted financial sops worth Rs 645.4 crore
for Nokia Telecom Special Economic Zone by offering to reimburse the
Value Added Tax (VAT) and cutting the price of land, says a report
based on information obtained through Right to Information Act.

“The special agreement between Nokia and Tamil Nadu government signed
in 2005 for the SEZ located in Sriperumbadur, Kancheepuram ensures
that the government will refund VAT on domestic sales to the value of
Nokia’s investments in infrastructure,” a Citizens’ Research
Collective’s report titled -The Public Price of Success: The costs of
the Nokia Telecom SEZ in Chennai for the government and workers, says.

The reports says “the MOU reveals that the state government offered an
added fiscal incentive to Nokia by offering to reimburse the Value
Added Tax (VAT) paid by the company with a condition that it would not
‘cumulatively exceed the investment made by Nokia in eligible fixed
assets within three years of signing of MOU.’”

“This adds up to approximately Rs 638 crore that the state government
would have reimbursed to Nokia for its investments in fixed assets,
thereby in effect paying for Nokia’s infrastructure investments,” the
report added.

The VAT reimbursement also indicates that Nokia all along had planned
to sell most of its phones in the Indian market and not for export
since VAT is only applicable when a product is sold within India.

Further, the TN government cut the price of land by half and assured
the company that “no other state/municipal levies would be applicable
on purchases/sales made by units within SEZ”, the report said.  This
resulted in a loss of Rs. 7.4 crore for the State Industrial Promotion
Corporation of Tamil Nadu, as per a 2007 report by the Comptroller
Auditor General, the report says.

The MoU also exempted Nokia from paying stamp duty on the land which
was earlier set to four per cent of land value or Rs 38 lakh.
Furthermore, it allowed Nokia to sublet the land at a higher price.

A number of anti-labour clauses were also offered by the TN government
to Nokia. The MOU says “the state shall declare the SEZ Site to be a
‘Public Utility’ to curb labour indiscipline” severely limiting the
right for workers to go on strike. Frequent use of contract labour and
low wages ranging from Rs 3,400 to Rs 5,400 have also been found.

The report also reveals 45-fold difference in salaries between Nokia
global staff and workers in its India plant.


The state largesse to Nokia included waiver of various other taxes
such as Works Contract Tax, Lease Tax and Entry Tax, and electricity
tax for the first five years of commercial production (offered to any
investment of Rs 200 crore as per New Industrial Policy 2003).




Factfile:
 Government to refund VAT on domestic sales to the value of Nokia’s
investments in infrastructure which is worth 638 crore

The state government cut the price of land by half and waived
state/municipal levies on purchases/sales made by units within SEZ.
The loss incurred is Rs 7.4 crore.

The MoU exempts Nokia from paying stamp duty on the land which was
earlier set to four per cent of land value or Rs 38 lakh

Declaring the SEZ Site to be a ‘Public Utility’ to curb labour
indiscipline” severely limiting the right for workers to go on strike.

Forty five-fold difference in salaries between Nokia global staff and
workers in its India plant.


Incentives
Uniterrupted power supply

If power requirements reach 50MVA, the state through TNEB, proposes to
build a 230 KVA substation at its own cost.

The land for same will be provided by the state and such land shall
not in any manner encroach on the SEZ site

Nokia shall have the liberty to unrestricted generation, transmission
and distribution of captive power within the SEZ, without  having to
pay any electricity duty or cess

The state government to build roads connecting National Highway 4 to
Nokia SEZ site at its own cost

writingonblog uncensored: Registration of TN properties dips; revenue stagna...

writingonblog uncensored: Registration of TN properties dips; revenue stagna...: C Shivakumar Chennai: Registration of properties across state fell by around 50,000 with no major projects being registered during the firs...

Registration of TN properties dips; revenue stagnant

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Registration of properties across state fell by around 50,000 with no
major projects being registered during the first half of the financial
year, according to registration department sources.

The official told Express that during the first six months of last
financial year a total of 13.36 lakh documents were registered. But
during the six months of this financial year only 12.85 lakh documents
were registered.

“This is 50,000 less when compared to first half of the last financial
year,” the official said.

Interestingly, registration department sources rule out fall in
revenue substantially. During the first half of last financial year
the revenue was around 4,002 crore while during the first half of this
financial year, it is 4,001 crore.

This has been attributed to many unregistered properties to evade
stamp duty. “There ould be many properties which have yet to be
registered and may be they would be registered after Deepawali,” the
sources said.

He also said that it is too early to link the depreciation in
registration of properties to downturn in Chennai’s realty sector.

 Interestingly, a report ‘South India’s Real Estate Hotspots’ by Jone
Lang LaSalle states residential property prices in Chennai have
escalated the fastest among the cities in India, witnessing an
appreciation of almost three times of what they were in 2007.

Traditionally, buyers in Chennai were hesitant to move to the suburbs,
as the options available in the key pockets were highly priced, the
report states. As the city is in expansion mode with the rapid
development in Chennai’s social and physical infrastructure, the
suburbs and extended suburbs such as Velacherry, Peringudi and OMR
belt are witnessing an upsurge in its property prices with
corresponding demand.

 Areas like Ayanavaram, Virugambakkam, Nungambakkam and Ashok Nagar
have recorded the maximum appreciation, the report stated.