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Building on a floodplain: Why residents and experts are warning against Chennai’s Sports City
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Citizen Matters
On February 18, 2026, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin laid the foundation stone for the ₹261-crore Global Sports City in Semmencheri.
A long-awaited milestone, the proposed Sports City promises to strengthen the state’s sporting ecosystem while attracting national and international events.
When the cyclone inundated the city in December 2023, neighbourhoods along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR)—including Perumbakkam, Semmencheri, Pallikaranai, and adjoining areas—remained submerged for days.
“The DPR explains how water will be managed inside the Sports City,” says Raj of the Federation of OMR Residents Associations (FOMRRA).
Finding a way forwardThe proposed Semmencheri site offers strong connectivity, with easy access to the airport, railway stations, and major transport corridors, an essential requirement for a world-class sports facility.