The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Commissioner G.S. Sameeran has directed officials to expedite ongoing civic works and initiate pending projects during a review meeting at the Ripon Buildings.

Assessing Northeast monsoon precautionary measures on Saturday, the Commissioner ordered the desilting of stormwater drains, improvement of canals, and the pruning of precarious tree branches. As of July 15, GCC has constructed 1,016.25 kilometres (km) of stormwater drains against a target of 1,126 km, at an estimated cost of ₹5,127.40 crore. The civic body has removed 16,270 metric tonnes (MT) of silt and water hyacinth from major canals using amphibian vehicles and robotic excavators. Further, 68,281 of the city’s 1,09,975 silt catch pits have been cleaned.

Officials were instructed to maintain the readiness of high-capacity motor pumps, 215 relief centres, and community kitchens. The session evaluated the progress of infrastructure initiatives at the detailed project report and tender stages, including urban primary health centres, modern bus shelters, gig workers’ resting facilities, integrated sports complexes, and the restoration of 49 ponds completed at an estimated ₹214.02 crore. Directives were also issued to initiate strict action against unauthorised constructions and the commercial utilisation of residential buildings.

Telangana welcomed nearly 150 global capability centres (GCCs) over the last 20 months generating more than 1.5 lakh high-value technology jobs, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu said here on Thursday (August 6, 2026).

At a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and global restructuring are reshaping the technology industry, “our GCC strategy is designed to future-proof employment by creating the jobs of tomorrow,” the Minister said inaugurating a 1.20 lakh sq. ft. GCC of JLL Business Services (JBS) in Hyderabad.

The city continues to demonstrate innovation-led GCCs are a powerful engine for investment, resilience and high-value job creation as technology companies across the world are restructuring and consolidating their traditional IT operations.

“For years, JLL has been the compass guiding global companies towards the right investment destinations. Today, that compass points to Hyderabad and for good reason,” Mr. Sridhar Babu said. JLL Business Services is global commercial real estate and investment management company JLL’s integrated operations delivery platform.

1,600 employees over two years

The 1.20 lakh sq. ft. facility is JBS’s second hub in India after Gurugram and expected to scale to 1,600 employees over the next two years. “Our choice of Hyderabad was strategic and deliberate,” said Matthew Rees, Chief Shared Service Centre Officer of JBS.

JBS with its operations spanning six countries and a workforce of over 6,500, has evolved into JLL’s strategic operations powerhouse. Optimising talent, process and location, is fundamental to JLL’s Accelerate 2030 strategy. “By establishing our GCC in one of India’s deepest talent markets, we are integrating exceptional people with standardised processes and AI-enabled workflows,” he said in a release.

Powerhouse for GCCs

JLL said Hyderabad is emerging as a powerhouse for GCCs in India on the back of a strong talent base, world-class infrastructure and a business-friendly ecosystem. The city commanded 16% of the country’s total GCC leasing activity during the 2024 to mid-2026 period. GCCs accounted for an impressive 42% of all office leasing activity within Hyderabad itself.

Sector-wise share

Financial services and insurance companies accounted for a third of GCC activity at 34.5%, while technology firms contributed 23.2%, healthcare and biotech companies 17% and engineering R&D operations 12.1%.

Hyderabad has evolved from an IT hub into a global innovation and business destination. It is India’s premier destination for healthcare-biotech and semiconductor GCC establishments, a competitive advantage built on progressive government policies, robust business support infrastructure and a real estate development pipeline capable of meeting sustained demand from these high-value, innovation-driven operations, JLL said.

Starting Friday, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Councillors will meet with residents at the ward offices to resolve civic issues in the city.

GCC on Thursday ordered the reopening of councillors’ offices that were closed owing to the model code of conduct for Assembly elections. As the elections have been completed, the civic body is set to open the offices of councillors, standing committee members, Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Congress councillor Dilli Babu said the officials have informed that the councillor’s office would be opened. “Residents will start visiting the ward offices to complain about civic issues on Friday. Dumping of debris has increased in some loccations. Sewage problems have also been reported,” he said.

DMK councillor T.V.Shemmozhi said at least 10 residents visit the councillor’s office to complain about civic issues in the ward every day. “The number of complaints about civic issues has reduced during the past few weeks. Residents have complained about garbage problems in Vasantham Colony in Anna Nagar. We will clear the garbage on Friday,” he said.

Councillors have also complained about a rise in complaints about streetlights in the city. Work on roads are expected to be taken up shortly.

In Ripon Buildings, residents were advised not to visit during the model code of conduct after the announcement of the Assembly elections. Once the office of the mayor, deputy mayor and standing committee chairpersons are expected to be opened, residents are expected to visit Ripon Buildings to redress grievances about civic issues. Work on roads, stormwater drains, community halls and schools are expected to resume shortly.