Tamil Nadu is establishing a dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) corridor to support Chennai's expanding tech and corporate sector.

Corridors covered:

• OMR (Rajiv Gandhi Salai): 45 km IT corridor from Madhya Kailash to Mahabalipuram/ECR; identified stretch between Madhya Kailash and Kelambakkam (25 km) through Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur, Navalur, Kelambakkam
• Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road: 10-14 km, east-west corridor linking GST Road to OMR; current proposal covers 7.4 km between Pallavaram Bridge and Thoraipakkam Junction
• Mount-Poonamallee High Road: 11 km arterial road through Nandambakkam, Manapakkam, Porur to Poonamallee; key commercial and IT corridor with projects like DLF IT Park

Key features:

• Enhanced Floor Space Index (FSI) for eligible GCC campuses to enable additional office space
• Infrastructure improvements for roads, public transport, water supply, sewage, drainage, electricity, digital infrastructure
• Current average land price: ₹5,000-10,500 per sq. ft; average 2BHK rent: ₹18,000-45,000 per month
• GCC sector added 94,000 jobs in 2023-24

Expected impact: Increased demand for housing, retail, hospitality and services in surrounding areas; establishment as major employment hubs.

Chennai’s luxury apartment market is concentrated in a small central ring, with prices of roughly ₹5 crore to ₹25 crore. Nungambakkam, Mount Road and Boat Club offer different price and land-share propositions; Boat Club and Poes Garden are described as the most prestigious addresses. The market has grown as senior corporate and promoter families favour serviced apartments and central land has become scarce. Chennai’s broader new supply historically ranged from ₹1 crore to ₹3 crore.

Brigade Icon on Mount Road has 200 homes on just over five acres, or around 40 homes per acre. Buyers are advised to check plot size and unit count, compare carpet area rather than super built-up area—particularly for homes above 3,000 sq ft—and verify RERA registration, handover dates, maintenance charges and approved neighbouring development.

Mount Road offers a central location and larger-plot amenities. Perumbakkam offers family homes at ₹1.25 crore; Brigade Morgan Heights is cited as a comparison. Central homes cost five to six times more per square foot, with fixed land supply supporting values but a small buyer pool and slower resale. Price bands are indicative, based on published Chennai market commentary checked 29 September 2026.

Farms and wet fields once covered areas south of Gemini Circle along Mount Road (Anna Salai), as well as Vellala Teynampet, Vanniyar and parts of Raja Annamalaipuram. The Long Tank of Mylapore supported cultivation; property names such as “Farmhouse” and “Field View” remain reminders of the landscape.

Governor Sir William Denison established Government Farm Village in 1865 across about 300 acres. William Rowntrie Robertson, trained at Cirencester Agricultural College in England, managed it for nearly two decades. About 139 acres grew crops and 36 acres held casuarina trees for construction firewood. The farm introduced agricultural methods, operated a school and sold seeds and tools.

The Madras Mail called it unproductive in 1897. By 1898, it was among India’s few operating government farms, but had shrunk to about 20 acres. Two other farms opened that year at Bellary, for cotton, and Koilpatti; both failed. The farm and school later moved to Coimbatore and developed into Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

The former land hosted Teachers Training College, parts of T. Nagar in plans during the 1920s, and parts of Nandanam by the 1950s. Roads, homes, institutions and commercial buildings have replaced most farmland.

Thousand Lights Metro station opened on February 10, 2019, beneath Anna Salai. It has improved access around Mount Road and Anna Salai, helping commuters avoid peak-hour traffic and reach the hospital on Greams Road and nearby shopping. Residential areas around Royapettah, Gopalapuram and lanes branching off Greams Road have seen property prices rise steadily over the last few years.

Brigade Icon is a mixed-use development on Mount Road near Nungambakkam, Central Chennai, with high-rise residences and commercial spaces. It offers 3, 4 and 5 BHK apartments and amenities including a clubhouse, landscaped gardens, gym, swimming pool, recreation rooms, outdoor sports courts, amphitheatre, co-working spaces, children’s play area and party hall. The project is at No. 180, Anna Salai, Mount Road, Express Estate, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002. It is minutes from underground Metro stations and is near Nungambakkam, Thousand Lights, Triplicane and Egmore. Architecture is by Singapore-based SOG Design, led by Ricard Gonzalvo and Guido Bigolin. The structure uses reinforced concrete framing and AAC blocks for internal and external walls and is designed for Seismic Zone III. RERA registration: PRM/KA/RERA/1251/310/AG/170824/000174.