Old city can do with more modern amenities, infrastructure

Congestion, conservancy issues remain key problems

A majority of the key landmarks of Chennai-Fort St. George, Madras High Court, the Chennai Central and Egmore railway terminals, Mint Street, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, the Government Stanley Hospital, to name a few fall within the Royapuram zone — the oldest part of the city.

With a population of around 7.5 lakh, it is the fourth most populous zone in Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). Almost every pocket in the zone, particularly Royapuram, is replete with history. However, the zone has largely failed to blend its history with modernity as it lags in basic amenities and infrastructure compared to the southern parts of the city.

Conservancy work in the zone is handled by the Corporation. While the situation has improved in recent years, garbage management remains a major problem.