The State government has relaxed norms to allow schools to have openings direct to the National or State Highways provided there was a service road for these highways. Earlier, as per the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019, schools were not to have openings direct to the National or State Highways.
The State government has also amended the rules to introduce fresh clauses in the special regulations for schools. In case of site abutting National or State Highways without service road, a 7 metre service road shall be provided along the entire frontage of the site in the applicant land which can be constructed and maintained by the applicant, as per the norms.
A compound wall was to be constructed after leaving the service road and the width of the entry or exit gates was to be not less than 9 metre and not more than 12 metre. The number of gates shall be restricted to a maximum of two, one of the fresh provisions said.
A guard rail of 1 metre in height shall be provided over the median separating the main highway and service road by the applicant at own cost. “If the median is not available, median shall be constructed at the road side of the service road end along with a guard rail of 1 metre in height over median by the applicant at own cost.”
According to the Tamil Nadu School Education Policy, 2025, there were about 58,800 schools, 1.16 crore students and about three lakh teachers under the control of the School Education Department, as of March 2024. The Directorate of Private Schools controls about 12,970 private schools with about 63.42 lakh students.
Published – November 25, 2025 12:53 am IST
