Chennai, Aug 18 (IANS) The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has begun the process of transforming an area of the Omandurar Government Estate into a modern public plaza featuring recreational, exhibition and public viewing facilities.
The civic body proposes to develop the underutilised land surrounding the government hospital as an accessible gathering space for visitors, attendants of patients and the general public.
The project is expected to be implemented through a public-private partnership model to ensure both quality infrastructure and long-term financial sustainability.
As part of the initial process, the GCC has invited consultants to provide project structuring and transaction advisory services. The selected consultant will be responsible for studying the commercial and technical feasibility of the proposal and preparing a framework for selecting a private concessionaire to develop and maintain the plaza.
According to Corporation sources, nearly four acres of the six-acre campus could be effectively converted into a public recreational zone.
The proposed facilities include landscaped seating areas, pedestrian pathways, lighting installations, food counters, exhibition spaces, screening zones and designated areas for public gatherings.
The Corporation is also considering the revival of the live forum space created when the Omandurar complex was originally planned to house the State Secretariat.
The forum could be redesigned to host cultural programmes, public events and other activities, making the campus a prominent civic destination in central Chennai.
Under the tender conditions, the consultant will undertake a comprehensive site investigation, collect field data and identify the statutory approvals required for the development.
The agency will also assess the need for shifting existing utilities and examine physical or administrative constraints that could affect implementation.
The advisor will review conceptual layouts, design guidelines and three-dimensional visualisations prepared for the plaza.
It will subsequently work with the concessionaire chosen for the project to refine the development plan and integrate revenue-generating facilities without compromising public access.
A detailed assessment of potential income streams will also form part of the assignment.
The consultant will study the use of available space, demand for advertisements, possible user tariffs, inflation and broader market trends to prepare financial projections for the entire concession period.
Corporation officials believe the project can reclaim the rear area of the hospital and utilise the Omandurar campus more efficiently.
If implemented as planned, the plaza will provide much-needed open space while creating a lively recreational and cultural hub for residents and visitors.
–IANS
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