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Adyar and Besant Nagar, Chennai: Zone 13 Residents’ Guide

Adyar and Besant Nagar are GCC Zone 13. The beach and estuary, key institutions, metro tunnelling under LB Road and the river's flood risk.

19 October 2026

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Adyar and Besant Nagar, between river and sea

Adyar and Besant Nagar are both in the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Adyar zone (Zone 13), which covers wards 168 to 180 under the state gazette on wards committees. The zonal office is at No. 115, Dr. Muthulakshmi Salai, Chennai 600020, according to the e-Sevai centre list. Corporation lists put Indira Nagar’s primary school in ward 173 and Besant Nagar’s Arignar Anna Government Higher Secondary School in ward 174, with division offices at Kottur (ward 172) and R.A. Puram (ward 173).

The two neighbourhoods sit between the Adyar river and the sea, so most local questions involve the beach, the estuary or the metro now being tunnelled under L.B. Road. Here is the practical guide.

The beach and the estuary

Elliot’s Beach at Besant Nagar is the neighbourhood’s public space, and also a nesting beach. The Forest Department’s Chennai division ran eight turtle hatcheries in 2024-25, up from four, according to the Chief Wildlife Warden’s report to the National Green Tribunal. The nesting season runs mainly from December to March. Beachfront residents can help by switching off or shading sea-facing lights at night. Swimming is unsafe here, especially in the monsoon.

North of the river mouth, Tholkappia Poonga covers about 58 acres of the restored Adyar creek. It is open to the public from Monday to Saturday, except public holidays. Walkers with a membership pass can enter from 6.30 to 8 am and 4.30 to 6 pm, and under-18s cannot join walkers, according to the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust. Phase II is meant to restore the remaining roughly 300 acres of the 358-acre creek and estuary area.

Landmarks and institutions

Annai Velankanni shrine, Besant Nagar: elevated to a basilica in September, making it Chennai’s third after Santhome and St. Thomas Mount, DT Next reported. Its annual festival, from 29 August to 8 September this year, brought restrictions on 6th Avenue, 2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 4th Main Road and 7th Avenue, with diversions via Indira Nagar and L.B. Road.
Kalakshetra Foundation: founded in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale, on a campus of almost 100 acres by the sea, according to its official site.
IIT Madras: founded in 1959, according to the institute. Its campus lies just west of Adyar.
Parks: River View Park on River View Road, Kotturpuram (ward 172), is on the Corporation’s fitness parks list.

Transport and metro works

There is no metro or suburban station inside Adyar yet. The nearest MRTS stations are Kasturba Nagar, Indira Nagar and Thiruvanmiyur on the Velachery line. MTC routes run along L.B. Road, Sardar Patel Road, Lattice Bridge Road and the Besant Nagar depot area. Metro Corridor 3 is being built underground from Madhavaram to Taramani, then on to SIPCOT. Its listed diversion sites in Adyar are Adyar Junction, Adyar Depot and Indira Nagar 2nd Avenue, according to CMRL’s diversion page. The TBM named Adyar reached R.K. Salai station on 2 October, part of a 12 km underground section between Kellys and Taramani worked by eight machines, DT Next reported. CMRL’s target for Phase 2 is end-2028. Night closures on OMR near Madhya Kailash and diversions via Indira Nagar avenues and Kalakshetra Junction, such as those in September, are likely to recur.

Services nearby

Health: the Corporation runs a diagnostic centre at Thiruvanmiyur alongside its urban primary health centres, according to its health department.
Police: Adyar is a police district of the Greater Chennai Police, DT Next has reported. Use the Kaaval Uthavi app to find your local station.
Post and registration: India Post has a post office locator, and TNREGINET shows the sub-registrar office for your property.

Flood risk

The river is the main risk. When Chembarambakkam releases surplus water, the Adyar rises from Kundrathur all the way to the estuary. In October 2025 a 500 cusec release put upstream localities on alert, The News Minute reported. The Water Resources Department began desilting the Adyar at Manapakkam in July, and listed Kotturpuram and Mylapore among the areas it should protect, DT Next reported. Kotturpuram’s riverside streets and low pockets of Gandhi Nagar and Kasturba Nagar near the river need watching when releases are announced. Monsoon shelters include the Indira Nagar and Besant Nagar schools in the Corporation’s relief centre list.

Quick answers

Which zone are Adyar and Besant Nagar in?

Zone 13, Adyar, wards 168 to 180. Besant Nagar’s main school is in ward 174.

Can I visit Tholkappia Poonga?

Yes, Monday to Saturday except public holidays. Walkers need a membership pass.

When will metro reach Adyar?

Corridor 3 stations are under construction, with Phase 2 targeted for completion by the end of 2028.

Where is the Adyar zonal office?

No. 115, Dr. Muthulakshmi Salai, Chennai 600020.

Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.