The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) (Tamil: சென்னை பெருநகர வளர்ச்சி குழுமம்), formerly known as Madras Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) is the nodal planning agency within the Chennai Metropolitan Area. The MMDA (CMDA) was constituted under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act 1971 as the nodal Town planning authority for the city of Madras (now Chennai) and its suburbs. It is headed by Minister for Housing as its Chairman.