CHAPTER 4 GROWTH DYNAMICS IN CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA

107 CHAPTER 4 GROWTH DYNAMICS IN CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA 4.1 INTRODUCTION Chennai Metropolitan Area has experienced over 7% decadal increase in the population growth rate during 2001-2011. During the same decade, the rest of CMA area has experienced about 22 % increase in the population growth rate. The factual details of the CMA like population, land use, physical constraints and plans and policies during 1971-2011 are dealt in the previous chapter. The detailed analysis of population growth and land use change in CMA since 1971 is carried out in the present chapter. The emergence of villages with population growth during different decades and the reasons behind the growth dynamics are dealt with. This chapter gives an insight on the trend of urban growth and identifies the variables which have highly influenced in shaping the growth of CMA. 4.1.1 Decadal Growth Rate of Population The rate of growth of decadal population over the past four decades from 1961-2001 followed a decreasing trend in the State, Chennai City, CUA and CMA as well as evident from Table 3.2 in the previous chapter. This trend did not continue into 2001 2011 rate of growth of population. During this decade, there is a considerable increase of 3.88 %, 16.88 %,

108 6.11% and 22.91% in case of the State, CUA, CMA and rest of CMA respectively (Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu 2011). At this juncture it is significant to mention that Tamil Nadu State along with Chattisgarh and Puducherry alone have shown increasing decadal growth rates during 2001-2011. Figure 4.1 gives a comparative line chart of the decadal population growth rates. Figure 4.1 Decadal growth rate of population of Tamil Nadu, Chennai city, CUA, CMA and rest of CMA during the year1971-2011. Source: Constructed using Census of Tamil Nadu (1961-2011), Second Master Plan for CMA-2026 (2008) and websites <http://www.thaibicindia.org.in/study/tamil_nadu/demographic >[14.08.2010] and <http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/urban-report. pdf> [14.08.2010]. Based on decadal population growth rate, the villages in CMA are broadly categorized as high growth, medium growth, low growth and decreasing growth settlements during the years 1991-2001 and 2001-2011 (Table 4.1). The proportion of each of the categories in CMA is represented in Figure 4.2. The distributions of the villages in CMA based on decadal rate of population growth during the above two decades are shown in Figure 4.3 and Figure 4.4. Some of the prominent villages under each of the categories are

109 listed out in Table 4.3. The high growth rate and medium growth rate settlements during the year 1991-2001 constitute 43% of the CMA. 36% of the settlements are experiencing low growth rate. During 2001-2011, the high growth settlements have increased by 25%. The medium, low and decreasing growth settlements have decreased by 5%, 10% and 12% respectively. The high and medium growth settlements, i.e., settlements with more than 20% decadal population growth rate, constitute 63% of the CMA. Table 4.1 Categorization of villages in CMA based on decadal population growth rate during the year 1991-2011 Category of villages based on decadal population growth High growth Decadal population growth rate Number of villages under each category during 1991-2001* 2001-2011 >100 % 25 52 58 106 >50 % 27 (21%) 58 (46%) Medium growth >20 % to <50 % 54 (22%) 41(17%) Low growth >0-20 % 91 (36%) 63 (26%) Decreasing growth <0 % 52 (21%) 22 (09%) Source:Constructed using Census of Tamil Nadu, 1991, 2001 & 2011. (* excluding St.Thomas Mt & Pallavaram Contonments) 4.1.1.1 High growth rate of population 21% of the villages have experienced high growth rates of population during 1991-2001. Out of the 52 villages in this category, only 10 of them lie on the northern part of CMA, i.e., on the northern side of Chennai- Arakonam Railway Line. On the southern part of CMA, villages along major transportation corridors viz., Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), East Coast Road (ECR), Velachery Main Road, Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST Road - NH45), Poonamallee Bye Pass Road and Poonamallee High Road or Grand

110 Western Trunk (GWT - NH 4) Road have exhibited high growth rate of population during 1991-2001. (a) 1991-2001 (b) 2001-2011 Figure 4.2 Proportion of villages in CMA under each category of decadal population growth during the year (a) 1991-2001 & (b) 2001-2011 Source: Compiled from Census of Tamil Nadu 2001 and 2011.

111 During 2001-2011, 46% of the settlements fall under this category. Similar to the earlier decade, the concentration of this category of settlements is seen in the western and southern parts of CMA than in the northern CMA (Figure 4.4). Many settlements continue to be present in this category since earlier decade. The settlements along the IT corridor, GWT Road and CTH Road have experienced high growth rates. One of the case study areas, namely Sholinganallur, selected from the high growth category continues to be in the same category, with higher growth rate of 128.80% (Table 4.2) 4.1.1.2 Medium growth rate of population In CMA, 22% of the villages have exhibited medium growth rates during 1991-2001. The villages present immediately along the Chennai City boundary on the northern and central CMA and those along major transportation corridors on southern side fall under this category. During 2001-2011, many new additions from the low growth category find place in the medium growth category. Settlements along GST Road, CTH Road and parts of northern CMA fall under this category. The percentage of settlements under this category has reduced to 17% against 22% during 1991-2001. One of the case study areas in the western CMA, namely Thirumazhisai has moved from the low growth category (12.0%) to the medium growth category (21.1%) during this decade.

112 Figure 4.3 Decadal growth rate of population in CMA during the year 1991-2001 Source: Census of Tamil Nadu 1991 and 2001.

113 Figure 4.4 Decadal growth rate of population in CMA during the year 2001-2011 Source: Census of Tamil Nadu 2001 and 2011.

114 Table 4.2 Decadal population growth rate of some of the villages in CMA during 1991-2001 & 2001-2011 High Growth Rate Medium Growth Rate Low Growth Rate Village % Village % Village % 1991-2001 Pallikkaranai 182.2 Porur 48.3 Thirumudivakkam 17.8 Vengaivasal 169.6 Varadharajapuram 47.5 Kottivakkam 17.1 Okkiamthorapakkam 168.1 Karapakkam 46.7 Padianallur 16.3 Nandambakkam 143.4 Karanodai 45.5 Nemam 15.7 Perungudi 142.9 Kathirvedu 43.4 Chinnasekkadu 15.6 Nolambur 138.1 Jalladianpet 43.0 Thirumazhisai 12.0 Neelankarai 119.2 Karambakkam 42.8 Pakkam 11.9 Manapakkam 105.4 Adayalampattu 42.1 Palanthandalam 10.9 Vanagaram 96.8 Nedungundram 39.2 Nazarathpettai 8.0 Injambakkam 96.4 Vandalur 38.5 Thiruneermalai 7.2 Mugalivakkam 95.8 Madipakkam 35.9 Tirusulam 7.2 Sholinganallur 82.5 Puzhal 30.1 Perungalathur 74.4 Sholavaram 29.3 Peerkankaranai 63.1 Thandalam 29.2 Athipattu 62.3 Madanandapuram 22.3 Chitalapakkam 59.2 Minjur 21.8 Thiruninravur 51.9 Mangadu 20.9 2001-2011 Semmancheri 694.6 Ambattur 49.9 Minjur 19.4 Mathur 267.0 Chitlapakkam 49.7 Thiruvottiyur 17.5 Ayyappanthangal 236.9 Pallavaram 49.0 Naravarikuppam 14.3 Medavakkam 205.5 Polichalur 48.4 Padianallur 13.8 Okkiamthorapakkam 195.2 Kottivakkam 45.6 Alandur 12.4 Nolambur 155.7 Karambakkam 43.0 Kathivakkam 12.4 Mudichur 136.9 Sholavaram 39.0 Adayalampattu 8.0 Karapakkam 136.0 Thirumudivakkam 34.9 St.Thomas Mount 3.9 Sholinganallur 128.8 Athipattu 29.6 Vanagaram 125.3 Alamathi 27.7 Kundrathur 119.9 Kuthambakkam 27.7 Sembakkam 111.0 Chinnasekkadu 27.3 Injambakkam 109.1 Tambaram 26.7 Thiruverkadu 100.8 Thiruninravur 26.5 Pakkam 98.9 Karanodai 26.3 Maduravoyal 97.7 Vandalur 26.0 Puzhal 53.4 Manali 23.3 Anakaputhur 50.5 Thirumazhisai 21.1 Source: Constructed based on Census of Tamil Nadu 2001 & 2011.

115 4.1.1.3 Low growth rate of population During 1991-2001, 91 villages have shown a decadal population growth of less than or equal to 20% accounting for 36% of villages in CMA and these villages are spread along the outer boundary of the CMA area. During 2001-2011, there is a 10% decrease of settlements under this category. Most of these villages in this category lie on the northern part of CMA. The case study area, Minjur had slid down from medium growth category (21.8%) to low growth category (19.4%) by a marginal difference of 2.4%. 4.1.1.4 Decreasing growth rate of population 21% villages in CMA show a negative growth in population, the decrease ranging from 0% to -100% during 1991-2001. These villages are equally distributed throughout northern and southern CMA, mostly along the periphery of CMA boundary. This category has witnessed a 12% decrease of number of settlements with a decreasing growth rate of population during 2001-2011. They are present sparsely in CMA. 4.1.2 Population Density As it is seen from Table 3.2, the density in the CMA and the rest of CMA were as less as 59 persons per hectare (5900 persons per sq.km) and 27 persons per hectare (2700 persons per sq.km.) respectively during 2001. During 2011, the density of CMA has risen to 75 persons per hectare and that of the rest of CMA has risen to 42 persons per hectare which indicates huge scope for accommodating higher population density as against the already denser Chennai city. The density of Chennai City has grown from 247 persons per hectare during 2001 to 264 persons per hectare in 2011. Based on the density of population, the villages in the rest of CMA area, i.e., excluding the Chennai city are categorised as extremely dense, very

116 high dense, high dense, medium dense, low dense and very low dense (Table 4.3). The distribution of villages under different categories at each time period is depicted in the graph in Figure 4.5. The population density during the year 2011 in the villages in CMA is shown in Figure 4.6. Table 4.3 Categorization of villages in CMA based on population density during the year 1971-2011 Categorization of villages based on population density Density of population (persons per sq.km.) Number of villages under each category during the year 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 Extremely dense >5000 1 8 21 30 55 Very high dense 4001-5000 1 3 5 8 14 High dense 3001-4000 5 6 12 17 11 Medium dense 2001-3000 7 7 24 21 22 Low dense 1001-2000 19 16 47 41 39 Very less dense 1000 217 210 141 133 110 Source: Constructed using Census of Tamil Nadu (2001 & 2011) and Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Development Area- 2026 (2008). 250 200 150 100 50 0 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 YEAR Extremely dense Very high dense High dense Medium dense Low dense Very less dense Figure 4.5 Graph showing distribution of villages in CMA based on population density during 1971-2011 Source: Constructed using Census of Tamil Nadu (2001 & 2011) and Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area- 2026 (2008).

117 Figure 4.6 Distribution of villages in CMA based on population density during 2011 Source: Census of Tamil Nadu 2011. The number of villages with a density of more than 5000 persons per square kilometer has increased from 1 during 1971 to 30 during 2001 and 55 during 2011. During 2011, the villages with extremely high population density over 5000 persons per square kilometer are present abutting the Chennai city and along Thiruvottiyur High Road, GNT road on the northern

118 side of CMA, CTH Road and GWT Road on the western side, GST Road and East Coast Road on the southern side of CMA. Followed by the villages under extremely dense category, very high dense and high dense categories of villages are present. Most of the villages in the periphery of CMA fall under the low dense and very low dense category. The case study area Minjur falls under the high density category and the case study areas Sholinganallur and Thirumazhisai fall under the medium density category. 4.1.3 Inference from Demographic Analysis The detailed analysis of the demographic characteristics viz., population size, decadal population growth rate, population density and the emergence of villages at different points of time based on population size reveal the following: (i) Villages along the boundary of the city and major transportation corridors viz., Thiruvottiyur High Road, GNT Road, CTH Road and GST Road had picked up growth as early as 1971 following a circular and a radial cum half-circle pattern of development. They also remain as the extremely dense or very high dense settlements since 1971. (ii) Unlike other transportation corridors, villages along GWT Road, ECR and OMR have picked up growth only in 1991 and 2001. In fact the entire southern part of CMA along OMR and ECR has emerged only during 1991-2006. (iii) Villages emerged during 1991-2006 are experiencing low to medium growth rates.

119 4.2 EMERGENCE OF VILLAGES AT DIFFERENT POINTS OF TIME The Census of India uses population size of more than 5000 as one of the criteria to determine an area as an urban area. Analyzing the urbanization trend in CMA constituting 250 villages with a criterion of population size exceeding 5000 would be too ambiguous and distinct observations could not be made. In this research, in order to understand the pattern of urbanization that took place in CMA at different decades since the year 1971, a yard stick in the form of population size over 10,000 has been fixed. A total of 15 villages in CMA had population more than 10,000 during the year 1971; the most populous among them was Thiruvottiyur Municipality with a population of over 82,000. Nine other villages emerged, each of them crossing a population of 10,000 during the year 1981 with Thiruvottiyur Municipality upholding the position with a population over 134,000. However Ambattur Municipality emerged as the most populous one during the year 1991 and 2001 with a population of about 215,000 and 311,000 respectively. Sixteen villages emerged during 1991 and three more villages emerged during 2001 with a population of over 10,000. Table 4.4 indicates the emergence of villages along the different transportation corridors during 1971 2006. Figure 4.7 shows the emergence of villages from 1971 to 2006. It is interesting to note that the villages present immediately abutting the city boundary viz., Thiruvottiyur, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, St. Thomas Mount Contonement and Alandur had picked up developments as early as 1971. Also, these villages lie along the major transportation corridors viz., Thiruvottiyur High Road, GNT Road, CTH Road and GST Road and picked up growth during 1971 following a circular and a finger type pattern of development. They also remain as the

120 extremely dense or very high dense settlements since 1971. Ullagaram Puzhuthivakkam had shown emergence during 1981. Nerkundram, Ramapuram, Manapakkam, Kottivakkam and Palavakkam had emerged during 1991. Unlike other transportation corridors, villages along GWT Road, ECR and OMR have picked up growth only in 1991 and 2001. In fact the entire southern part of CMA along OMR and ECR has emerged only during 1991-2006. During 2001, the villages along Old Mahabalipuram Road viz., Perungudi, Okkiyamthorapakkam, Sholinganallur and those along East Coast Road viz., Neelankarai and Injambakkam had emerged in a contiguous fashion. Only one village in the northern part of CMA, namely, Vallur along Thiruvottiyur Ponneri Panchetty Road (TPP Road) had emerged with a population crossing 10,000 during the year 2001. However the developments did not happen contiguously over the successive decades in the villages along these corridors. This kind of non-contiguous development is a resultant of the growth dynamics that is due to varying combinations of different factors influencing development, in each of those villages. Therefore it is imperative to identify the factors responsible for the growth dynamics and to understand their complex combinations which influence the growth of each of the villages.

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123 Figure 4.7 Emergence of villages in Chennai Metropolitan Area during 1971-2006 Source: Kanchanamala & Sekar 2011

124 4.3 REASONS FOR EMERGENCE OF VILLAGES WITH POPULATION GROWTH i. The elaborate discussion on the population aspect has already revealed that the population growth and population density are on the higher side along the transportation corridors, i.e., wherever there was good accessibility to transportation network. ii. During 1971-1981, villages immediately along the boundary of the Chennai city grew mainly because of the spillover of the urban activities with the annexure of the villages Kanagam, Tharamani, Thiruvanmiyur, Velacheri, Kodambakkam (part), Virugambakkam, Saligramam, Koyambedu, Thirumangalam, Villivakkam, Erukkancheri, Kolathur and Kodungaiyur with the city during the year 1977 and the impetus created in the neighbouring villages. iii. Pallavaram and Tambaram villages, quite far away from the city boundary had also shown development as early as 1971 in a non-contiguous fashion along the GST Road and the southern line of Chennai sub-urban Railway. Electrical, leather, timber, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, educational institutions, access to road and rail network were the locational advantages of Pallavaram. Similarly, Sub-urban Railway terminal, residential quarters, educational institutions such as Madras Christian College and Air Force Station were present in Tambaram. iv. Areas close to industries, industrial estates had recorded early population growth. Industries such as Carborundum Universal Ltd, WIMCO Match Factory, ITC Ltd., Enfield, MRF, KCP

125 India Ltd., were present in Thiruvottiyur village in the northern CMA which picked up growth in 1971. Similarly, Kathivakkam village in northern CMA emerged in the year 1971 after the commissioning of the Ennore Thermal Power Station in the year 1970 with residential quarters for the employees. v. The Ambattur Industrial Estate commissioned in the year 1964 hosts major Companies like Britannia, TI Cycles of India, Dunlop, and TVS. Textile industries such as Ambattur Clothing Limited and Bombay Fashions are located in this estate. The Heavy Vehicles Factory, which manufactures military tanks, is 5 km from this place, in Avadi Municipality. Both Ambattur and Avadi located along the CTH Road quite away from the city boundary but housed with industries had emerged during 1971. At the same time, Korattur and Padi villages lying close to the city boundary just along the city boundary continued with agriculture activities and they lacked internal roads and land for development. These villages had picked up development with industries and residences only during 1981 after the extension of Chennai city limit. vi. After Thiruvottiyur and Kathivakkam which were in emergence in 1971, Minjur in the extreme end along these corridors emerged in the year 1981 leaving behind villages such as Manali, Vaikkadu, Kadapakkam, Vellivoyal, Vallur, Ennore, Athipattu and Nandiyambakkam. All these villages lacked good accessibility to road network. Manali remains an industrial village and it picked up development only during 1991 after the development of Inner Ring Road. Buckingham canal, Ennore Creek and Kosathalaiar River were constraints

126 on development in this stretch as there were no connectivity by bridges/culverts and so they lack transportation facilities. Also there were agricultural activities as well as salt pans which prevented new developments. However, Minjur present after these villages possessed facilities such as high schools, health centre, banks, connectivity to the neighbouring places, veterinary hospital, Block Development Office and theatres which helped in the emergence of the village in the year 1981. vii. Vallur village present even before Minjur village along TPP Road had emerged only in the year 2001 after the commissioning of the North Chennai Thermal Power Station in the year 1994, widening of the TPP Road and Athipattu Main Road and the commencement of Ennore Port works. viii. Over 70 % of the villages crossing the mark of population more than 10,000 emerged during 2001 and 2006. Among these villages Mathur and Chinnasekkadu villages lie in the northern CMA along IRR. CMDA and Tamil Nadu Housing Board had implemented housing schemes in Mathur. The villages along OMR, ECR, Velachery Tambaram Road, Medavakkam Sholinganallur Road and Pallavaram- Thorapakkam Road (MMRD Road). The development of IT corridor, the boom in the IT industry, and improvements to the major roads like Velachery Tambaram Road, Medavakkam Sholinganallur Road, Pallavaram-Thorapakkam Road and Poonamallee Bye Pass Road took place during this period. These activities have led to the growth of even the farthest villages in CMA like Semmencheri. ix. Availability of approved residential plots for development during 1991-2000, was about 1461 Hectare in CMA (CMDA,

127 2011). These plots, approved by CMDA, were mainly distributed in the western and southern CMA. Similarly, during 2001-2010 about 1393 Hectare of residential plots were approved by CMDA (<http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in> [20.12.2013]). In both the above time periods, the plots were distributed in most of the villages in the southern CMA and about 75% of the villages in western CMA. In northern CMA approved layouts are present only along the transportation corridors. x. More industries are present in northern and western CMA which are of special and hazardous nature creating pollution in these areas (Second Master Plan for CMA, 2008). In contrast, number of buildings for Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES), have come in the southern CMA, mainly along the OMR IT corridor (Rajiv Gandhi Salai). Further many of the industries in Ambattur and Guindy Industrial Estates are undergoing transformation into IT and ITES offices inviting more developments in the western part of CMA. xi. During 2006-2012, in tune with the IT & ITES development, large scale residential developments are coming up in the western and southern CMA even in places where there are lack of transportation and other infrastructure facilities. These developments are most sought after for the purpose of investment and rental income. The reasons for the emergence of villages in CMA listed above are summarized in Table 4.5.

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130 4.4 SUMMARY From the analysis of growth trend, it is observed that during 2001-2011, Chennai city has experienced a decreasing trend in the growth rate of population whereas the State, CUA, CMA and rest of CMA have experienced an increasing trend in the growth rate of population. Therefore this exercise has assisted in understanding the growth trend of the CMA and the reasons behind such trend and has given an indication on the possible future trend so that the planning process for future development could take off in the right direction. The factors which influence urban land use change in different urban areas are already studied and synthesized in Chapter 2. The analysis on the emergence of villages in CMA with a population crossing 10,000 during the decades 1971-2011 has shown that the growth has taken place mainly along the transportation corridors, where industries, institutions and other work places are present. Further, the agricultural lands along the transportation corridors had transformed to urban areas as evident from the land use maps given in the previous chapter. The villages in which development / improvement projects are implemented have also shown substantial growth. On the other hand, the villages with physical constraints have not shown significant growth. It is therefore evident that the factors such as accessibility to transportation corridors, proximity to work places, availability of land for development, physical constraints for development, plans and policies of the Government and private agencies have played a significant role in shaping the land use of CMA. The analysis of emergence of villages during different periods of time and the study of land use changes in CMA have thus given a clear understanding on the key factors or the variables, which have highly influenced the population growth. The actual

131 selection of variables which play key role in bringing out the land use change in CMA is carried out in Chapter 5. The classification of villages based on the growth rate of population during 1991-2001 has helped in selection of three case study areas. Totally three case study areas, one each representing the categories of high growth, medium growth and low growth have been selected to represent the entire CMA for simulation of land use changes, which is dealt in Chapter 6. The CA based model for simulation of land use changes is applied for these three case study areas for paucity of time. However, as the model has been validated for all the three categories of case study areas, it is only time and resource to be spent adopting the very same methodology of this thesis for simulation of land use changes for the city and CMA as a whole.