In 1687, the first municipal
corporation in India was set up at Madras during
the British rule period. The Chennai Municipal
Corporation (officially the Corporation of
Chennai), formerly known as the Corporation of
Madras, is the civic body that governs the city of
Chennai (formerly Madras), India. Inaugurated
on September 29, 1688, under a Royal Charter
issued by King James 1L on December 30, 1687
as the Corporation of Madras, it is the oldest
municipal body of the Commonwealth of
Nations outside Great Britain. It is headed by a
mayor, who presides over 200 councilors each or
whom represents one of the 200 wards of the
city. It is also the second oldest corporation in
the world.