In a major move to control the menace of stray cattle on city roads, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has passed a resolution making it mandatory for cattle owners to obtain licences and microchip their animals.As per the resolution, cattle owners must submit their licence applications on or before March 18, with a prescribed fee of ₹100 per cattle. Application forms can be downloaded from the GCC website and submitted to the respective zonal veterinary officers.
Corporation officials said that after field inspections, licences will be issued and microchips implanted in the animals. The microchips will digitally store ownership details and other relevant information, enabling easier identification and enforcement. For this purpose, the GCC has procured 25,000 microchips and 25 handheld readers.
Despite the new system, the civic body will continue to impose a ₹10,000 fine on owners whose cattle are found roaming freely on public roads. Officials said the measure is aimed at improving road safety and reducing traffic disruptions caused by stray cattle.
The GCC has also set up modern cattle sheds in several zones, with additional facilities currently under construction to accommodate seized animals.
According to official data, 16,921 cattle were seized over the past five years, during which the corporation collected ₹4.5 crore as fines. In the 2024–2025 period alone, 4,237 cattle were caught, resulting in fine collections amounting to ₹2.22 crore.
Civic authorities said the new licensing and microchipping initiative is expected to bring greater accountability among cattle owners and significantly reduce the stray cattle problem across Chennai.
