An official from Bus Route Roads Department of the City Corporation said the name was changed about 10 days ago after a Government Order was issued in this regard. “The move would not have been made without calling on a local representative,” the official maintained.

Long-time residents like Ram G, whose family has been residing in the locality since 1974, expressed displeasure over the move. He said, “The spot where Phoenix Market City on the Main Road used to be the last connecting point for bus commuters in and around Velachery, during those times. That is why the road is so important to our cultural history.”

Padmapriya Baskaran, writer-historian who is conducting a walk in Velachery this Sunday, backed the claims of the residents about its historicity and the significance of the name, saying that the place is steeped in history. “The Selliamman Temple in the area bears an inscription that identifies the place as Velichery during the reign of Parantaka I, in the 10th Century (907 to 955CE). It was called Vedasreni and subsequently Dinachanthamani Chaturvedimangalam (named after Dinachinthamani, a Chola queen. Chaturvedi Mangalam means a settlement of Brahmins skilled in the Vedas). It was a well-developed settlement during the Chola period itself and the inscriptions in Dandeeswarar Temple talks about different local administrators such as Alangu Nattar. The Yoga Narasimmar Temple, another landmark temple in this area, stands on Nattar street, still named after them.”

The residents claimed they had the support of politicians from across parties who were against the move. “We will also fight the matter in the court if the need arises,” said Kumara Raja, adding that every important department were situated along the road –police station, electricity board and all the historical temples.