If one who lived or saw Ambattur ten or two years ago and saw it today, it would be almost unrecognizable. Such was the extent of the changes. But residents say growth has stalled in recent years.
Ambattur Assembly constituency is a densely populated urban seat in Tiruvallur district with an electorate of over 3.3 million voters and a mix of industrial workers, middle class residents and small businesses.
The constituency, which was created after delimitation in 2008, covers parts of Ambattur taluk and the expanding western reaches of the city, anchored by the Ambattur Industrial Park and surrounding residential areas.
Incumbent DMK MLA Joseph Samuel was not renominated this time. Chennai Corporation Ward 87 councilor AP Poornima will contest on a DMK ticket against PMK’s N. Sekar, NTK’s Aadthithan and TVK candidate G. Balamurugan.
T. Gunaseelan, a resident of Ambattur, says widening of Chennai – Tiruttani Road (CTH) from Padi to Avadi is a long pending demand. He notes that several stretches remain narrow, leading to severe obstructions and daily traffic jams. With heavy commuter, bus and industrial traffic, the current road width is insufficient. He adds that widening the road would ease traffic flow and reduce travel time for thousands of daily commuters.
Ambattur railway commuters have renewed their demand for an additional platform on the south side of Ambattur railway station so that express trains and fast local trains to Chennai can stop there. Currently, the station’s three platforms serve slow suburban services in both directions and fast/express trains in one direction only, so there is no room for return services.
S. Gopalakrishnan of Ambattur Rail Commuters Welfare Association (ARCWA) said a new footbridge was needed as people were risking their lives by crossing the tracks. He also said that the metro construction is progressing at a slow pace, which is causing inconvenience to commuters and residents around the station.
“Neglected Area”
S. Suresh, president of the United Welfare Associations (UWA) in Ambattur, says there has been little development in recent years and the area continues to be neglected. “We have asked for a government hospital. In case of emergency, people have to go to Kilpauk or Stanley Hospital. It takes almost 30 minutes to cross Ambattur Estate during peak hours for a patient to reach Kilpauk Hospital, imagine what could happen,” he notes.
Further, the residents are demanding a government school for boys. While the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Girls Higher Secondary School serves girls in the area, boys often have to travel to Villivakkam, Perambur or Anna Nagar for similar facilities, they said.
“Without these basic amenities, why do we need things like boating in the park?” said Mr. Suresh referring to the newly introduced watercraft facility at Thangal Eri Park on the Madhanakuppam Main Road in Kallikuppam. Korattur Lake, one of the largest water bodies in Chennai, has become an increasing problem for the residents of the area. Foul smell, foaming and fish kills are now common as untreated sewage continues to flow into the lake through storm drains and connecting canals from nearby areas like Ambattur.
The issue was taken up before the National Green Tribunal, which directed civic agencies to curb the inflow and strengthen the sewage infrastructure. However, residents say there has been little visible improvement on the ground and pollution continues to affect the lake.
Korattur Aeri Padhugappu Makkal Iyakkam secretary S. Sekaran says many areas are yet to be provided with underground sewerage connections, forcing residents to connect their drains to the Chennai Corporation-built sewerage system. “People find it costly to get a sewer connection. They have to pay roughly ₹30,000 as an advance to Metrowater, apart from road cutting charges and unofficial payments to the authorities concerned,” he says.
Ambattur Lake is also contaminated, residents say, with a visible layer of water hyacinth covering parts of the water body.
Published – 06 April 2026 04:30 IST
