The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is the local body governing the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai Metropolitan Area. It is the state’s largest municipal corporation, led by a mayor who oversees a council comprising 200 councillors, with each representing one of the city’s 200 wards. The executive wing is managed by the commissioner, and the Chennai Corporation includes a Deputy Commissioner, many Heads of Departments (HODs), and 15 zonal officers. The city’s boundaries have expanded over the years and now coincide with the Chennai district. It is among the four municipal corporations situated in the Chennai Metropolitan Area, alongside the Tambaram Corporation, Kanchipuram Municipal Corporation and Avadi City Municipal Corporation. Read on to learn more about the Greater Chennai Corporation.
Greater Chennai Corporation: History
Established in 1688, the Greater Chennai Corporation holds the distinction of being India’s oldest municipal body. Its formation aimed to regulate the authority of Elihu Yale, the then Governor of Madras. Before the corporation’s establishment, the region under its jurisdiction was under the administration of the Madras Governor, assisted by a headman, an accountant, a watch and ward head. Initially, the Chennai Corporation dealt with minor cases, but its role and responsibilities became more defined by 1856. Over time, amendments were made to the Municipal Act, altering the authority’s constitution and powers. Presently, the primary statutory authority governing the Greater Chennai Corporation administration is the Madras Municipal Corporation Act of 1919. In 1901, the Chennai Corporation covered a 68 sq km area, comprising 30 territorial units and had a population of 5,40,000.
Greater Chennai Corporation: Administration
Chennai is administratively divided into three main divisions: South, North and Central. These divisions are further subdivided into fifteen zones, which, in turn, consist of 200 wards. The recently annexed areas were classified into 93 wards, while the original 115 wards confined within the limits of the old city were utilised to establish the rest of the 107 wards. As of the last census conducted in 2011, the newly created wards have not been assigned specific names. Among the 200 wards, 26 were designated for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, and 58 were reserved for female representation. The Greater Chennai Corporation’s jurisdiction includes 23 zones, which are as follows:
North Chennai
- Thiruvottiyur
- Kolathur
- Madhavaram
- Perambur
- Royapuram
- Harbour
- Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
- Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar
Central Chennai
- Anna Nagar
- Villivakkam
- Ambattur
- Egmore
- Thousand Lights
- Virugambakkam
- Chepakkam-Thiruvallikeni
- Thiyagayaraya Nagar
South Chennai
- Alandur
- Maduravoyal
- Saidapet
- Velachery
- Sholinganallur – I
- Thirumayilai
- Sholinganallur – II
Greater Chennai Corporation: Roles and responsibilities
The Greater Chennai Corporation has various essential functions related to the maintenance and development of the city. These responsibilities encompass the following areas:
- Roads: The Chennai Corporation is responsible for the upkeep of 1,160 bus routes spanning a total length of 353.94 km. Additionally, it manages the maintenance and improvement of interior roads, covering a total length of around 5,563.06 km.
- Parks and open spaces: The corporation oversees the maintenance and management of 113 community centres and 260 public parks throughout the city.
- Education: The GCC maintains 322 schools, serving a student population of 1,30,000.
- Water: The city’s primary water reservoirs, including Chembarambakkam Lake and Red Hills Lake, are managed by the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board, which provides water services to the residents.
- Waste management: The corporation efficiently handles the management of the approximately 4,500 tonnes of waste generated by the city on a daily basis. This waste is systematically collected and disposed of from various urban areas. Night conservancy operations are conducted along main roads and commercial spaces.
- Health: The Greater Chennai Corporation is responsible for maintaining and operating several healthcare facilities, including 36 filaria clinics, 75 dispensaries, 42 tuberculosis microscopic centres, a centre for infectious diseases, a filarial lymphoedema treatment clinic and an NGO-run filaria clinic. Additionally, the corporation manages 42 dispensaries. The city also houses three slaughterhouses, located in Villivakkam, Perambur and Saidapet.
Which online services does Greater Chennai Corporation offer?
The Greater Chennai Corporation provides a range of convenient online services accessible through its official portal. These services can be availed from the comfort of your home. The following online services are offered on the GCC’s official website:
- Property tax payment
- Issuance of death and birth certificates
- Company tax payment
- Payment of entertainment tax
- Application for a trade licence
- Submission of an online public grievance
- Accessing the citizens’ portal
- Checking the availability of community halls
- Application for sanitation certificates
- Access to town planning services
- Services related to professional tax, including calculation, registration, payment and procedures
- Applying for road cut permission
- Access to information regarding zones and divisions
- Obtaining a pet animal licence
To utilise these services, visit the official portal of the Greater Chennai Corporation and create a login ID for access.
FAQs
What is the role of Greater Chennai Corporation?
The corporation is responsible for maintaining the city's roads, streetlights, flyovers, as well as overseeing cleanliness and hygiene levels in Chennai.
How many members are in Greater Chennai Corporation?
The Greater Chennai Corporation Council comprises a Mayor and 200 Councillors. From among the 200 Councillors, one is elected as the Deputy Mayor.
What are the limits of Greater Chennai Corporation?
The Chennai Corporation area is situated on the Coromandel Coast, in the central eastern coastal region of the Deccan plateau, at the northern tip of Tamil Nadu. The city extends along the coastline, covering approximately 43 km of sandy beaches and reaching about 19 km inland, encompassing a total area of 426 square km.
How do I contact Greater Chennai Corporation?
To register a complaint, please call 1913. You can also use this number to inquire about the status of your complaint. Ensure you have your Complaint Number ready before making the call.
How old is Chennai Corporation?
The GCC, formerly known as Madras, holds the distinction of being India’s oldest municipal institution, established on September 29, 1688.
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