Madras Race Course to Be Transformed into Mega Ecological Park in Chennai!
The Madras Race Course Club, one of India`s oldest, will soon be transformed into a large ecological park. The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order to convert the 118-acre land in Guindy into a horticultural garden with green spaces for public use. The land, valued at ₹4,832 crore, was transferred to the Department of Horticulture after the lease with the club was cancelled.
Chennai, with a population of 86.9 lakhs, has a per capita green cover of only 1.03 square metres. The city’s green spaces account for just 6.7% of the total area, significantly lower than other cities. The creation of this park is seen as vital for boosting Chennai`s green cover and promoting environmental sustainability.
The government took control of the Race Course Club following a Madras High Court ruling for the non-payment of rental arrears amounting to ₹730 crore. The lease for the land was originally granted in 1946.
