Licensing and microchipping of cattle made mandatory by Greater Chennai Corporation

After mandating pet dog licensing and microchipping, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) bids to do the same for cattle to curb stray cattle issues and man-animal conflicts in the streets. The civic body has moved to make it compulsory for cattle owners to obtain licenses for their animals across all zones.

After mandating pet dog licensing and microchipping, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) now plans to do the same for cattle to curb stray cattle issues and conflicts on the streets. The civic body, at the Council meeting held on Friday (January 30, 2026), has resolved to make it compulsory for cattle owners to obtain licences for their animals across all zones.

According to the resolution tabled at the meeting, the 2024 census conducted by the GCC identified 22,875 cattle within city limits.

Stray cattle roaming freely on the Porur-Kundrathur main road, posing a risk to motorists. File | Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj

Many of these animals lack proper shelter and roam free on roads, causing traffic disruptions and public health hazards. Instances of cattle attacking the public have also been recorded. To address this, the GCC has deployed dedicated cattle-catching vehicles across 15 zones, each with five workers. Impounded animals are held at corporation sheds in Pudupet, and owners are charged a fine of ₹10,000 per head, with the condition that the animals should not be released back onto the streets, the resolution said.

Between 2024 and 2025, the civic body impounded 4,237 cattle and collected ₹2.22 crore in fines.

The new regulations require owners to download application forms from the GCC website and submit them to zonal veterinary officers. Following a field inspection by health inspectors and veterinary officers, a licence will be issued upon payment of a ₹100 fee. Each animal will be implanted with a microchip containing the owner’s name, address, and animal details. Owners have been granted a 45-day window until March 18, 2026, to obtain these licences.