Chennai: In the next year, the city will turn unused corners into places people flock to for food. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is working on a plan to convert vacant land and underused municipal buildings in busy parts of the city into food courts. These spaces, until now ignored, will soon see crowds, kitchens, and the smell of fresh food in the air.In the first phase, GCC picked three sites: the land next to the Ripon Buildings on Sydenhams Road, a plot on Indira Nagar 3rd Avenue, and a stretch near the Alandur metro parking lot. All three spots lie unused today. GCC plans to turn them into clean, affordable food courts with a range of popular cuisines.“We are doing this based on the model CMRL adopted near Ashok Nagar metro station,” said M Birathiviraj, deputy commissioner (revenue and finance). “We’ll build the shell structures with essential facilities such as parking and basic amenities, and then lease them out to vendors or food chains.”To get things moving, GCC has floated a tender to hire a consultant who will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The consultant’s scope will include topographical and geotechnical surveys, architectural and structural designs, 3D visualisations, and preparation of tender and construction-ready documents.The DPR is expected to be ready in the next few months. Once it is done, GCC will float tenders for construction. Officials plan to expand the model in phases and are scouting more empty land and unused shopping complexes across the city.“These are not just food courts,” a senior GCC official said. “We are creating well-planned, lively public spaces while monetizing municipal assets.”Gandharv Dhingra, CEO of Roll Baby Roll and chapter head of NRAI Chennai, said, “When brands come together in high-footfall zones, it benefits the entire community — bringing hygienic, affordable food options, steady revenue for the exchequer, and catalysing real estate development. It’s not just about food; it’s about developing the area holistically.”Satish Galley, a civic activist, said, “A well-planned food court in the neighbourhood with proper sanitation, waste management, and crowd control is needed. Many public spaces are now converted to dumpyards or a hangout space for troublemakers. We hope the voices of local residents will be considered in the planning process.”