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Chennai Gets 20 Administrative Zones: What It Means for Residents

To improve governance and ensure better civic services, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has increased its administrative zones from 15 to 20. This move aims to balance population distribution, enhance infrastructure, and streamline service delivery across the city.

By Aakash Khuman 12:06 PM Mar 01, 2025 IST

Ripon Building, headquarters of Greater Chennai Corporation. (File Photo | EPS)

The Tamil Nadu government has approved an increase in the number of administrative zones in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) from 15 to 20. Chief Minister MK Stalin issued the order to ensure equal distribution of resources and improve civic services for residents.

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Why Was This Change Needed?

GCC was expanded in 2011 by merging 42 local bodies, increasing the city’s size to 426 square kilometers. While the population was 66.72 lakh in 2011, it has now grown to around 85 lakh. This rapid growth, especially in peripheral areas, led to an imbalance in population distribution, making service delivery challenging.

How Will This Benefit Residents?

The addition of five new zones is expected to:

Improve road infrastructure and street lighting
Enhance water supply and sewage management
Ensure better solid waste disposal
Strengthen the investment climate and boost economic growth
Make administration more efficient

How Were the New Zones Divided?

The restructuring was based on several factors, including:

Population density
Voter lists
Number of roads and streets
Tax assessments

This change is expected to simplify governance and address the challenges of service delivery, particularly in densely populated areas.

Previous Challenges with 15 Zones

Currently, Chennai has 15 zones and 200 wards, along with 22 Assembly constituencies. However, the administrative zones were not aligned with Assembly constituencies, creating difficulties in governance and service delivery. Officials had reported challenges in maintaining civic infrastructure in highly populated areas.

When Was This Decision Announced?

Minister KN Nehru had initially announced in 2022 that the number of zones would be increased. The official approval has now been given, and the new division is set to improve the city’s administration.

This expansion aims to create a more balanced and efficient civic governance system, ensuring that all areas receive equal attention and development.

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