The plan is to connect the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), and urban and rural local bodies on one platform. On 25 September, a CMDA official also said the proposed system would bring in departments that issue no-objection certificates (NOCs).

For an applicant, the goal is a more connected approval process. SPEED has not yet been verified as a publicly available service, however. The government has not published a confirmed launch date or detailed applicant workflow in the sources reviewed as of 28 September 2026. Its promised speed improvements should therefore be treated as an aim, not an achieved result.

How is SPEED different from STAR 3.0 and Anywhere Registration?

STAR 3.0 has been rolled out in phases and includes services such as paperless registration and digital deed preparation. Under Anywhere Registration, online, presence-less registration became compulsory for specified first sales of plots and apartments from 17 August 2026. A registering officer still examines the document before registration.

Think of a new apartment project: planning approval for the building is the kind of task SPEED is intended to handle. Registration of an individual flat buyer’s sale deed belongs to STAR 3.0 and, if eligible, its Anywhere Registration process. Approval to build and registration of a sale deed are separate steps.

How Are Building Approvals Obtained Today?

At present, a landowner, eligible leaseholder or authorised power-of-attorney holder applies online to the relevant planning authority. For a developer’s project, the developer typically coordinates the application with the owner’s authorisation, while a registered architect or engineer prepares and submits the required drawings. The authority checks the plans, property documents and applicable building rules, seeks any required clearances, and issues planning permission or a building permit if the proposal meets the requirements. The exact process depends on the property’s location and the type of construction. SPEED is intended to bring these approval processes onto a more connected platform, but its public application process has not yet been confirmed.

Need Help With Building Plan Approval?

When SPEED becomes operational, a faster approval process could help developers and owners. Buyers should still check the actual approved plan, its conditions, and whether the property matches it.

Verified.RealEstate manages building plan approval applications for property owners and developers in Tamil Nadu. We help review your property documents and proposed plans, identify potential approval issues, and guide you through the application process with the relevant authority. If you are buying a property, we can also help verify its existing approvals and check whether the construction matches the approved plan.

The acquisitions are spread across established city locations and fast-growing suburban corridors, showing that developers are no longer concentrating on only one part of Chennai.

Their strategy now includes:

• Redevelopment opportunities within the city,
• Large residential communities in the suburbs and
• Township-scale projects along emerging infrastructure corridors.

Major Land Transactions Across Chennai

Some of the largest disclosed transactions for the past two years include Baashyaam Group’s acquisition of 5.8 acres on Haddows Road for ₹1,212 crore and the purchase of 16.4 acres in Padi for ₹561 crore by Canopy Living LLP, a joint venture between Prestige Estates Projects and Arihant Foundations and Housing.

Brigade Group acquired 5.4 acres in Velachery for about ₹442 crore, while Arihant purchased nine grounds on Anna Salai for ₹100 crore. DRA Homes also acquired approximately 4.3 acres in Chembarambakkam for ₹50 crore.

Godrej Properties secured a much larger 47-acre parcel in Kattur Village near OMR, although the transaction value was not disclosed. Developers have also reported land deals in Thalambur and Karanai, reflecting continued demand for sizeable parcels in Chennai’s southern suburbs.

Different Locations, Different Types of Development

The nature of future development will depend on the location, land size and planning regulations.

Prime city parcels such as

• Haddows Road and Anna Salai may be suitable for luxury housing or mixed-use projects.
• Larger sites in Padi, OMR and western Chennai could support integrated residential communities, plotted developments, villas or township-style projects.
• Velachery, with its established schools, hospitals, retail facilities and transport connectivity, is likely to attract premium apartment developments aimed at upper-middle-income and affluent buyers.

Western Chennai Gains Developer Attention

Development activity is also moving towards western Chennai, supported by major infrastructure projects such as

• Chennai Metro Phase 2, covering 118.9 km, is expected to improve connectivity to areas such as Sholinganallur, Madhavaram and Poonamallee, creating new residential catchments along the corridors.
• The 132-km Chennai Peripheral Ring Road could unlock larger land parcels around Sriperumbudur, Thiruvallur and the GST Road for township-scale developments.
• The proposed Chennai–Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor aims to significantly reduce travel time between these cities, boosting regional connectivity and economic growth.

Large land parcels are more readily available on Chennai’s outskirts than within the core city. This allows developers to plan larger communities with better amenities, open spaces and lifestyle facilities.

Industry participants also point out that land prices are increasing faster than apartment prices. The limited availability of large, clear-title, litigation-free and development-ready parcels is pushing land values higher across Chennai.

Why Land Verified Corporate Services Matter Before Development

Large land acquisitions involve substantial legal, financial and planning risks. A single disputed survey number, ownership defect, access problem or unresolved encumbrance can delay an entire development.

Verified.RealEstate assists residential and mixed-use developers with its advanced AI-driven intelligence:

• Bulk-land aggregation
• Title verification
• Encumbrance checks
• Land-classification review
• JV and JDA structuring
• FSI assessment
• Approval planning
• TNRERA readiness.

Each parcel can be independently examined for ownership, access, conversion, classification and physical contiguity before it is consolidated into a larger development site.

The Verified. Realestate team also evaluates whether the land falls under CMDA or DTCP jurisdiction and whether the proposed project is compatible with the permissible buildable area.

From Land Acquisition to Project Launch

Verified.RealEstate’s developer-focused process covers four broad stages:

• identifying the land and transaction structure,
• verifying and aggregating individual parcels,
• mapping the approvals and TNRERA requirements, and
• preparing the property for a secure project launch.

Developers may acquire land through an outright purchase, joint venture or joint development agreement. The structure can be assessed based on land value, permitted construction potential, expected project revenue, funding requirements and the share offered to the landowner.

The Verified Real Estate corporate team extends its services across Tamil Nadu, covering major industrial, residential, and commercial areas.

As Chennai developers continue to invest in both city and suburban land, detailed legal and development due diligence will become increasingly important. The strongest projects will not be defined only by their location or size, but by whether the underlying land is legally clear, properly approved and practically ready for development.

The mandate is not symbolic — it places clear, measurable requirements on builders and project approvals. Here’s the full breakdown of what the GO says, and how it directly impacts the real estate market in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu.

🏠 Residential Buildings: Who Must Comply?

The GO applies to large residential developments that meet any of the following conditions:

• Height more than 14 metres, or
• More than 8 dwelling units, or
• Built-up area of 750 sq.m or more

This means almost all modern apartment projects in Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, and tier-2 towns automatically fall under the mandate.

❌ Exemptions

Small residential buildings are exempt if they meet all the below:

• Height ≤ 14 metres,
• ≤ 8 dwelling units,
• Built-up area < 750 sq.m

Independent houses, duplexes, and very small apartments are generally exempt.

🔌 What Residential Projects Must Provide

For all qualifying buildings, the GO mandates:

1️⃣ One EV charging point for every required car parking slot

If a project has 120 required car slots, 120 EV-ready points must be provided.

2️⃣ One EV charging point for every required two-wheeler parking space

Two-wheeler EV adoption is exploding in TN — the GO recognises this.

3️⃣ Visitor Parking — Fast Charging for Large Projects

Residential developments with more than 50 units must provide:

• Fast-charging points in visitor parking zones

This is a strong regulatory shift — the state wants visitor, cab, and delivery EVs supported by default.

🏢 Commercial / Industrial / Institutional Buildings

For non-residential buildings, the rule is simpler:

Mandatory if FSI area exceeds 300 sq.m

Such projects must provide:

• EV charging in at least 10% of total parking spaces, and
• Those EV bays must offer fast-charging

Malls, IT parks, hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, office buildings, and warehouses all fall under this.

📅 Applicability: Only For New Approvals

The GO applies to buildings seeking planning permission after the publication of the Gazette notification.

• Existing buildings are not forced to retrofit EV chargers
• But the TN EV Policy 2023 encourages large apartments, malls, and townships to voluntarily adopt EV charging infrastructure

⚡EV Charging Allowed in Open Space, Recreational, Non-Urban, and Even Agricultural Zones

The Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, EV charging facilities can now be set up in Open Space & Recreational Zones, Non-Urban Zones, and even Agricultural Zones. This means areas like parks, playgrounds, public recreation spaces, semi-urban belts within the Chennai Metropolitan Area, and rural/agricultural lands can all legally host EV charging infrastructure without needing special land-use conversion.

It makes statewide EV access easier, supports last-mile charging, and allows builders, township planners, and private operators to integrate charging facilities closer to residential and commercial developments. I

📘 Policy Background: Why This Mandate Was Introduced

Tamil Nadu’s EV ecosystem is one of the strongest in India, and the new building-rule amendment directly supports this momentum. It aligns with the Tamil Nadu EV Policy 2023, follows national guidelines issued by the Power Ministry, and fits into broader goals of decarbonisation and reduced urban congestion. With EV adoption rising rapidly in apartments and gated communities, the Government Order simply updates the planning rules to match the state’s shift toward cleaner, future-ready mobility.

💡 Real Estate Impact: What This Means for Buyers & Developers

1️⃣ Buyers Expect EV-Ready Homes

Homebuyers will now look for projects that include proper EV charging points and visitor fast-charging bays. Checking EV provisions in the approved plan becomes essential for convenience and long-term value.

2️⃣ Builders Must Update Designs

Developers are required to plan wiring, parking layouts, and charging bays before seeking approvals. This pushes builders to integrate EV infrastructure into the core design stage.

3️⃣ EV Compliance Becomes a Differentiator

Even with the mandate, projects that execute EV charging cleanly — structured bays, safe wiring, fast-charging — will stand out in the market and attract more buyers.

4️⃣ EV-Ready Buildings Hold Better Future Value

As EV use grows, non-compliant buildings will face retrofit issues and reduced appeal. New compliant projects will remain more future-proof and maintain stronger resale value.

🦁 Verified.RealEstate Tools That Help in EV-Compliance Transparency