Mylapore Residents Protest Redevelopment of Nageswara Rao Park

More than 50 residents, volunteers from the environmental organisation Nizhal, and civic activists gathered for a silent protest at Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on Sunday, voicing strong opposition to the growing concretisation of the green space.

The four-acre park has remained largely unusable since 2024, when the Greater Chennai Corporation undertook stormwater drain construction that left the grounds dug up. A broader redevelopment project valued at ₹12.22 crore was subsequently launched in September 2025 with an original completion target of February 2026, but the work remains unfinished.

Demonstrators at the hour-long gathering held placards reading 'Save the park' and shared memories of the park's earlier tree-filled state. Participants argued that the ongoing redevelopment has drastically altered the park's character by replacing natural greenery with concrete structures.

T. D. Babu of Nizhal stated that the concrete additions should be completely removed and the work undone. He also noted that the civic body failed to consult the green committee prior to cutting down trees on the site, adding that the project contractor should face penalties for the disruptions.