Chennai Boosts City Infrastructure With Ropeway And Digital Twin
Chennai’s civic authorities have unveiled a suite of urban development projects aimed at modernising public transport, improving mobility along the waterfront, and integrating advanced digital planning tools across the city. The latest municipal budget earmarks significant investments for infrastructure upgrades, signalling a strategic shift towards data-driven, resilient, and inclusive urban governance.
A central element of the new plan is the introduction of a ropeway system along Marina Beach, connecting the Lighthouse area to the Anna Memorial. The initiative, structured under a public-private partnership model, is designed to reduce pedestrian congestion while enhancing the visitor experience along one of the city’s busiest waterfronts. Urban mobility experts suggest that such cable-car systems, when integrated effectively, can provide rapid, low-carbon transport alternatives that complement existing public transit networks.
In parallel, the civic body has approved the redevelopment of nine major bus termini, including George Town, Thoraipakkam, and Pallikkaranai, with an estimated investment of Rs 110 crore. These upgrades are intended to modernise commuter facilities, improve accessibility, and facilitate smoother operational efficiency for public transport. Planners highlight that better-functioning bus infrastructure can reduce travel time, increase ridership, and support more equitable urban connectivity across diverse neighbourhoods. Technology-driven governance is also a key focus in the budget, with the introduction of a ‘Digital Twin’ for the city. Initially piloted across a five-square-kilometre area in Nungambakkam, covering critical corridors such as College Road, Greams Road, and Anna Salai, the system will consolidate surveillance, traffic, and asset data into a unified virtual model. Urban planners emphasise that such platforms enable proactive flood management, traffic optimisation, and real-time scenario planning tools essential for climate-resilient and future-ready cities.
Complementing these mobility and digital initiatives, the municipal authorities have allocated Rs 45 crore for greening interventions along the Buckingham Canal. The programme includes pedestrian pathways, cycling tracks, recreational zones, and dense Miyawaki-style forest patches, aiming to improve public access while enhancing ecological resilience. Urban ecologists note that small-scale green infrastructure projects can mitigate heat, improve air quality, and foster community engagement, reinforcing the city’s commitment to sustainable urbanisation. Collectively, these measures indicate Chennai’s strategic alignment with global trends in climate-conscious, people-centred urban development. While execution will require coordination between municipal agencies, private partners, and community stakeholders, the focus on integrated transport, digital planning, and ecological upgrades positions the city to enhance livability, support economic growth, and build resilience against environmental and social stresses.
