CHENNAI: Rapid urban growth in the Madhavaram constituency has outpaced the development of basic infrastructure, leaving residents grappling with poor roads, patchy water supply, and flooding concerns.
Despite its proximity to major water sources such as Red Hills and Puzhal reservoirs, large parts of the constituency still lack piped drinking water. Residents say the focus must shift to strengthening core civic services, including interior roads, stormwater drains, waste management and desilting of surplus canals.
“For over a decade, Metro Water has been collecting taxes, but piped connections are yet to reach many homes,” said Daniel Kumar, secretary of Palaniappa Nagar House Owners and Tenants Association. He also flagged safety risks from exposed transformers and incomplete underground cabling. “Overhead cables remain in many stretches, posing danger,” he added.
Encroachments have worsened traffic bottlenecks. The Madhavaram–Red Hills Road, instead of being widened, has narrowed at key points, such as Thapalpetti junction, residents said.
The constituency has 4.2 lakh voters, largely comprising working-class, low-and middle-income groups, along with a sizeable migrant population.
Development remains uneven. While some pockets have seen better roads, areas such as Madhavaram Milk Colony, Mathur and Manali lag behind. Low-lying localities like Vadaperumbakkam and Manjambakkam witnessed severe flooding during last year’s monsoon, with water levels rising up to hip height.
Residents’ groups say flood mitigation works remain incomplete. “The cut-and-cover canal project has helped, but a few hundred metres are still pending. Completing it is crucial,” said K Nalvalvar, president of the Federation of Thanigachalam Nagar RWAs. He also called for the resumption of the S61 mini-bus service to improve connectivity to Perambur.
Sewage discharge into water bodies is another major concern. D Neelakannan of the Tamil Nadu Alliance of RWAs flagged the continuous inflow of sewage into Retteri Lake, a key drinking water source.
Road conditions remain a persistent complaint. Frequent road cuts by private utilities and delayed restoration have left stretches damaged. “The Red Hills–Madhavaram High Road is narrow and uneven, making daily commute difficult,” said a resident of Vadaperumbakkam. He also sought more bus services connecting Red Hills, Madhavaram and the surrounding areas.
In Mathur, residents flagged pollution from unauthorised lorry workshops. “Illegal borewells and workshop activity are depleting groundwater and affecting public health,” said MP Palani of the local RWA.
Basic amenities are lacking in parts of Puzhal as well. In St Antony Nagar, the absence of sewage connections has led to wastewater being discharged into nearby water bodies. Residents also reported rising theft incidents.
In Cholavaram, poor road infrastructure continues to pose safety risks. “Village roads connecting to the Grand Northern Trunk Road are in bad shape and accident-prone, especially at night,” said M Sridharan of Sothuperumbedu.
Total voters: 4,20,601
Men: 2,05,922
Women: 2,14,596
Trans persons: 83
Sitting MLA: S Sudharsanam