Marked by uneven urban development

Business establishments gradually taking up more space in some areas of Madhavaram constituency indicate rapid urbanization. But the largest constituency in Tiruvallur district still presents an opposite situation between urban and rural development.

With more than 4.5 lakh voters, the constituency includes not only Madhavaram, which has been merged with the Greater Chennai Corporation, but also a number of local bodies which come under the panchayat unions of Pujhal, Solavaram and Villivakkam.

Madhavaram now has more facilities, such as satellite inter-city bus terminus, a horticultural garden and more banks and supermarkets.

The area once known for mango trees and thick green cover is now slowly moving towards urbanization. Working to improve Red Hills Lake as a recreational location and the recent development of Phase II of the Chennai Metro connecting Madhavaram and CMBT has brought joy to the residents.

Infrastructure level

However, the level of development of infrastructure beyond Madhavaram is lagging behind that of the noted residents. The constituency represents a fragment of the Thiruvallur district, with an amalgamation of the urban middle class, migrant workers and rural population who are engaged in various occupations.

For a constituency consisting of large and small waterbodies, which include ratteries, and rich groundwater capacity, many panchayats still struggle with inadequate water supply. In the constituency pockets, such as Alamathi, Mathur and Manjambakkam, are prepared for commercial purposes by packaging of drinking water units and private lorries. This led to Vee, a resident of Vinayagapuram. Kamalanathan said that this led to deterioration in water quality.

Madhavaram is home to lakes in the Red Hills and Cholavaram that cater to Chennai’s water needs. But residents of gram panchayats in Pujhal and Cholavaram manage groundwater for a network of piped water on a large scale.

Voters demand that large waterfalls like Milk Colony, Vadapparambakkam and Padianallur be desolated and improved as recreational places.

Traffic congestion remains a major issue in the constituency, which is considered an entry point for trucks from Andhra Pradesh. Motorists have to go for space with heavy vehicles on the stretch of GNT Road at Madhavaram Junction and Red Hills Junction on Tiruvallur Code Road.

Red Hills Paddy and Rice Wholesale Merchants Association Vice President M. Jayapalan said that a dedicated parking lot for trucks bringing rice from Andhra Pradesh and a flyover near Red Hills Junction would reduce congestion.

“We need a market for paddy wholesalers in Koyambedu. There has been a decline in the number of rice mills. But the Red Hills is still the city’s rice bowl and paddy cultivation continues in the pockets of Cholavaram and Alamathi.

With 36 units and 5,000 employees, Madhavaram Leather Industrial Estate without any infrastructure is also attracting attention for years now. Some of the other major demands include underground drainage networks in areas including Padinallur and Narvikuppam, and upgrading of more government hospital and school infrastructure.

DMK stronghold

Longtime residents noted that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance traditionally has a stronghold in the constituency based on past records. However, people from different communities are dispersed in the constituency, comprising two communities – Vanniyars and Dalits – are prominent and play a key role in choosing the winners, v. Anandan, member of the Madhavaram Committee of the CPI (M) said.

In the two elections since the constituency was formed, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and DMK have won one each. This time too, the previous winner – former Milk and Dairy Development Minister V. Murthy (AIADMK) and DMK MLA S. Sudarshanam – who is a well-known face in the constituency, is competing in the elections.

Madhavaramurthy, a former Madhavaram councilor who last contested on AIADMK ticket, is also in the fray on behalf of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kadagam, while MNM has fielded Ramesh Kondalasamy.