GCC Opens Rs 7.87-Crore Dog Sterilisation Centre and Vet Hospital in Nandambakkam

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Saturday inaugurated a new dog sterilisation centre and veterinary hospital at Nandambakkam in Alandur Zone, constructed at a cost of Rs 7.87 crore to curb the city's stray dog population.

Alandur MLA M. Harish inaugurated the facility on MGR Road in Ward 158 and inspected the premises. Built over an area of 1,408 square metres using the Corporation's capital funds, the facility is designed to support expanded animal birth control operations across the zone.

The ground and first floors house a veterinary hospital for domestic pets, administrative and doctors' rooms, a pharmacy, a laboratory, recovery and observation rooms, a waiting area, and storage facilities. The centre also features two operation theatres, a dedicated sterilisation unit, changing rooms, a washing area, and rooms for veterinary officers and medical staff.

The Corporation currently performs sterilisation surgeries on roughly 200 stray dogs per day across Chennai. With the commissioning of the Nandambakkam centre and the completion of three other facilities under construction, the civic body aims to scale up its capacity to between 350 and 400 surgeries daily.

The three additional Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres are under construction at Athipattu, Velachery, and the Bio-CNG plant area in Sholinganallur. Chennai currently has 11 operational ABC centres, including facilities at Pulianthope, Lloyds Colony, Kannammapet, Meenambakkam, Sholinganallur, Manali, Tiruvottiyur, Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, and Kannappar Thidal.

Additionally, the Perungudi ABC centre is functioning as a temporary shelter for dogs affected by diseases, while dedicated shelters capable of housing 250 diseased dogs each are under construction at Manali and Perungudi. The civic body also operates pet treatment centres in Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar, Nungambakkam, Kannammapet, Meenambakkam, Pulianthope, and Lloyds Colony.

As part of its stray dog management and rabies prevention strategy, the GCC plans to ensure comprehensive rabies vaccination for all stray and domestic dogs and accelerate pet licensing. Following the inauguration, Harish also inspected a modern cattle shelter in the vicinity and instructed officials to maintain sanitation standards.