The city corporation’s ambitious project of using geographical information system (GIS) to map all properties and utilities is back on track after the delay due to Covid-19. The consultant, which surveyed properties in 119 wards using drones and door-to-door verification and created maps, found 2.9 lakh under-assessed properties. This will help Greater Chennai Corporation increase its revenue.
The survey of storm water drains, sewage manholes, drain manholes, street lamps, transformers, traffic signals, zebra crossings, CCTV cameras and sign boards in 45 wards will help the corporation plan future engineering projects.
“The consultant completed 107 wards in the core city before the work was stalled due to lockdown and lack of workers. We restarted the process and completed the survey in 19 wards in added areas. Now, work is in progress in seven wards (three in Thiruvottiyur, three in Ambattur and one in Perungudi). We will complete the survey in a few months’ time,” said an official.
The consultant, Darashaw Private Limited, is creating a map for the entire city covering 426sqkm, 15 zones and 200 wards. The map, which will include every property along with details of the area, tax payment and other information, is being created with the help of satellite images, drone videos and photos and door-to-door verification before the information is fed into the GIS software.
The World Bank-funded project, estimated to cost Rs 6.47 crore, has been sanctioned another Rs 21.7 crore to ensure each zonal office has a fully equipped GIS room to assess future projects. “Whenever a new property comes up, the revenue official and tax assessor concerned will with the help of a device be able to find its coordinates and extent of the area. This information will be fed into the software and will reflect in the main server that can be accessed from anywhere,” said an official.
The project staff, who are set to increase from 120 to 200 soon, are finding it difficult surveying properties in added areas where properties have plot numbers and where hundreds of roads and layouts have been developed in the past few years. “We are trying our best to find the properties and update them in the system,” said an official.
