Seismic risk in urban areas is the greatest and most rapidly growing hazard in developing countries. The highest seismic risk in India is concentrated in the north and northeast parts, which is home to approximately 60 percent of the population of the country. The Chennai city is one of the well urbanized and densely populated urban centre in where the majority of buildings are reinforced concrete structures containing three to four stories. The city has an area of 170 sq.km and the total population of city is 43.43 lakhs as on 2001 Census. Major part of the city is covered by Recent alluvium to the thickness maximum of 28m and these deposits can amplify in multifold generally 3.9. Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS 1893(Part 1)-2002) categorized the city under Seismic zone III (prone to moderate seismic hazard-we can expect earthquake magnitude upto 6.9 in this zone). Such being the case, safety of this city is extremely important to safeguard the human lives and infrastructures. The present paper aims to bring out seismic hazard map for Chennai city using the geotechnical parameters. The potential seismic sources for this region have been delineated based on the seismoteconic parameters for the Chennai and its vicinity. The expected ground motion in terms of Peak Ground Acceleration calculated based on attenuation relationship. The seismic hazard potential for the city estimated using the geotechnical parameters viz, SPT 'N' values, shear wave velocity, relative amplification factor and intensity increment and presented in the form of maps. The present map will be helpful in cases where the seismic hazard is assessed to be high; more detailed geophysical investigations may be required for site specific micro seismic zonation maps for further land use planning purposes. © 2011 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.