Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has decided to build six new night shelters across the city at a cost of 9 crore. Designed with modern amenities, the facility will offer secure overnight accommodation for people living on the streets, particularly during extreme weather conditions. Each shelter will be a ground-plus-first floor facility. Civic officials said the move is aimed at strengthening Chennai’s social safety net and improving living conditions for the city’s homeless population.The new shelters, to come up in key locations in the city, will have separate sleeping areas for men and women, toilets, bathrooms, drinking water, lockers and security arrangements. Basic healthcare access and counselling support are also expected to be integrated into the shelters.“At present, there are several night shelters operating under the civic body’s urban homeless rehabilitation programme. However, the demand has been steadily rising, particularly during the monsoon and peak summer months,” said a senior official with GCC.The initiative forms part of GCC’s larger efforts to expand welfare infrastructure for the urban poor. “Chennai has been recognised nationally for its homeless outreach programmes, with several shelters already functioning in collaboration with NGOs. We have been conducting regular rescue and outreach operations, encouraging homeless individuals to move into shelters,” the official added.The additional shelters will help decongest existing facilities and extend coverage to underserved zones. The project is expected to be taken up shortly, with construction to begin after the tendering process is completed.Social activists have welcomed the move, noting that access to safe shelter is a necessity, particularly in a city grappling with rapid urbanisation and widening economic disparities. “For hundreds living without a roof over their heads, these shelters could offer not just a place to sleep, but a pathway towards dignity and stability,” said Ramasubramanian, a social activist.
