The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has sanctioned Rs 54.36 crore to the city police for building new stations, boosting surveillance, and launching community welfare projects in North Chennai under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam, marking a major push towards safer and more inclusive urban policing.
As Chennai continues to expand demographically and economically, the need for robust, modern policing infrastructure has become increasingly critical. In response, the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) is set to undertake a multi-pronged upgrade through a Rs 54.36 crore allocation by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). The funding, cleared under the Chief Minister’s directive, is a strategic move to reinforce public safety, improve law enforcement logistics, and foster inclusive civic engagement in under-served northern localities. A lion’s share of the sanctioned amount—Rs 31 crore—will be directed towards the construction of two fully equipped police stations in Kolathur and Peravallur. These neighbourhoods, witnessing dense urbanisation and rising civic pressures, have long lacked purpose-built policing infrastructure.
Civic observers note that these new stations, budgeted at Rs 16 crore and Rs 15 crore respectively, will significantly enhance law and order readiness in the fast-developing corridor. Another critical intervention is a Rs 9.75 crore investment in a lodging facility for police personnel who travel from other parts of Tamil Nadu for court proceedings, investigative duties, and special task deployments. By addressing the accommodation needs of officers, the city aims to boost efficiency and reduce administrative friction. Further strengthening Chennai’s public safety architecture, Rs 9.16 crore has been earmarked for installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 45 strategic points across North Chennai. These high-definition surveillance tools will assist in real-time tracking of vehicle movements, identifying traffic violations, and aiding criminal investigations through automated data feeds. Officials believe this upgrade will dramatically enhance enforcement capability while deterring vehicular crimes.
In a socially progressive move, a drug rehabilitation centre will be established at a cost of Rs 2.95 crore. Situated in a locality that has seen rising substance abuse issues among youth, the facility will offer integrated medical treatment, psychological counselling, and reintegration programmes. Urban policy experts see this as a crucial step toward sustainable, health-centred policing that reduces repeat offences and uplifts vulnerable sections of society. The allocation also includes Rs 60 lakh for launching 10 Police Boys and Girls Clubs in economically marginalised areas. These centres will function as community spaces providing extracurricular activities, career skill-building, and mentoring to children from low-income households. By embedding law enforcement into community welfare, authorities aim to cultivate trust, reduce delinquency, and strengthen civic values from an early age.
Additionally, Rs 90.6 lakh has been approved to purchase 60 two-wheelers, giving a much-needed mobility boost to police patrolling teams, especially in congested lanes and interior zones where vehicular access is limited. Senior officials from the GCP stated that this round of funding is transformative in scope. “It reflects a shift from reactive policing to a more holistic, community-oriented model. These projects not only improve service delivery but deepen engagement with the communities we serve,” a senior GCP officer noted. As Chennai moves toward becoming a more sustainable and equitable urban environment, such interventions—integrating physical infrastructure, digital surveillance, and social rehabilitation—signal a forward-looking approach to public safety and governance.
The CMDA’s Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam, now powering these developments, could well serve as a model for inclusive urban security planning across Indian cities.
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