Virugambakkam and its surroundings are among the fast developing neighborhoods in Chennai. It is home to several residential localities, apart from one of Asia’s largest perishable goods markets — the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex — and the Puratchi Thalaivar Dr Bus Stand. MGR, formerly Chennai Mofussil Bus Station (CMBT).
The constituency includes several densely populated residential localities including KK Nagar, parts of Ashok Nagar and Vadapalani, Saligramam, Kannabiran Nagar, Virugambakkam, Jafferkhanpet, Koyambedu and Annai Sathya Nagar.
S. Arumainathan, president of the Virugambakkam Residents’ Welfare Association, said there were no 24-hour government hospitals in this densely populated residential area. The locality is home to people from various socio-economic backgrounds, especially wage labourers, he said.
Health problems
The health center at Virugambakkam operates only till 3:00 p.m. While it provides facilities for prenatal and postnatal care, residents are demanding the establishment of a maternity ward. At present, they are forced to go to Kodambakkam or Kilpauk for supplies, he said and demanded that the health center be upgraded to a government hospital with better facilities.
Residents are also demanding that pattas be issued to people living on poramboke government land in areas like Bharathiyar Nagar, Kulasekarapuram, Pachaiamman Nagar and Gandhi Nagar.
They also highlighted the problem of clogging of the underground sewage pipes leading from Arcot Road to the Koyambedu treatment plant, which often leads to overflows at several places.
To solve this problem, residents are demanding three mini gas stations within this network. They also sought to build public libraries. and a footbridge with escalators near the northern end of the Koyambedu flyover to help school students and the elderly cross the road safely. Commuters have also expressed concern over the poor condition of the Kaliamman Koil road that connects Jawaharlal Nehru Road (100 feet) to Arcot Road.
For traders in the Koyambedu wholesale market complex, piped drinking water supply to shops remains a problem.
According to S. Chandran, president of the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Licensed Traders Association, piped drinking water supply has been a demand of traders for nearly two decades. There is no such provision for the more than 3,000 shops in the market complex that sell fruits, flowers and vegetables. According to him, there are no common provisions for drinking water either.
As the number of buses plying from CMBT to other parts of the state has reduced significantly after the opening of Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus (KCBT) at Kilambakkam, Mr. Arumainathan demanded that this bus complex be converted into an integrated education complex for women with arts and science colleges and polytechnics with hostels.
Another densely populated area that falls under the Virugambakkam Assembly segment is KK Nagar. According to KS Rajendran, president of the KK Nagar Residents Welfare Association, footpath encroachment has emerged as a major problem, with eateries springing up along residential stretches such as Ramasamy Street, Lakshmanasamy Salai and Ponnambalam Salai. This situation leaves little room for pedestrians to walk safely, he said.
“The problem is particularly serious as there are nearly 10 schools in the neighborhood and children cannot go to school comfortably due to blocked footpaths,” said K. Elangoo, a resident and legal adviser to the association.
He also said that Anna Main Road, Azhagirisamy Salai and Kamarajar Salai are school zones and children are forced to walk on the roads due to encroachment by vehicles used for construction purposes. Even after approaching the court and obtaining orders to remove the encroachments, these have not been removed and KK Nagar is being used as a parking lot, he said.
Residents further demand that the parks be well maintained. Citing the example of a park in Sector 11, Mr. Rajendran said the gymnasium and play equipment in some parks were suffering from rusting and required proper maintenance. Residents also point out that KK Nagar, a flood-prone area, has seen some improvement after flood mitigation measures, but feel more needs to be done to prevent water stagnation during heavy rain.
Election history
This constituency was created after delimitation in 2008. Since then DMDK won in 2011, AIADMK won in 2016 and DMK in 2021. With DMK announcing incumbent MLA AMV Prabhakara Raja and AIADMK in former MLA Virugai’s field, the contest here is closely watched.
This constituency also witnessed an almost 31% reduction in the number of voters following a particularly intensive revision of the electoral roll.
Published – 30 March 2026 05:00 IST
