Chennai Smart City Limited was awarded the best project in the “Citizen Service Delivery” category at the Smart Urbanation 2019 event held in Bangalore on 24-25 September. The award was received by Mr Govinda Rao, Managing Director CSCL & Deputy Commissioner (Works), GCC. Mr. Raj Cherubal, CEO CSCL and Mr. P.S.Srivinivasan, Executive Engineer (Parks Dept, GCC) were also present. The event was organised by Smart Cities Council India, supported by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, New Delhi.

Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Smart City Limited as a part of Smart City initiative developed a sensory park in Santhome incorporating the best features as per global standards and in line with the best health and medical standards. These are specialized parks for all kinds of visitors with emphasis on children with disabilities. The purpose of such an initiative is to provide individual and combined sensory opportunities to users who may not normally experience them.

The sensory park contain features that are accessible to the persons with disabilities such as scented plants, tactile sculptures and sculpted handrails, water features designed to make sound and play over the hands, textured touch-pads, braille signage and audio induction loop descriptions. At the Sensory Park, the equipment doubles up to provide an enhanced opportunity for strategic developmental, learning, and other educational outcomes. The design and layout provide a stimulating journey through the senses, heightening awareness, and bringing positive learning experiences. 

The Park was inaugurated in December 2018 and since then has seen a steady stream of visitors from several disability rights organisations, schools for children with special needs and general public. Programs like Autism Awareness Week, story-telling and focussed learning visits are also undertaken at the park. The Sensory Park was established at a cost of Rs 1.37 crores under the Smart City Fund.

The Park was recently awarded with Government of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s recognition at the Independence Day program. With initiatives like sensory park, CSCL is hopeful of taking a step towards making Chennai a more inclusive and vibrant city with equal opportunities for persons from all backgrounds and abilities.