T.N. Assembly election: Villivakkam, a densely-populated urban area, faces civic gaps despite infrastructure push

Villivakkam, a salient municipality constituency successful the city, presents a premix of long-established, densely-populated low-income residential areas, an concern cluster, and rapidly expanding middle-class areas, immoderate of which person fixed mode to flat complexes successful caller years.

Home to a divers electorate, comprising working-class sections, authorities employees, and tiny concern owners, the constituency reflects Chennai’s evolving socio-economic landscape. It has retained its chiseled character, with a important working-class colonisation shaping its identity. Once the largest constituency successful the city, Villivakkam has shrunk successful size arsenic galore constituencies, including Ambattur, Kolathur, Madhavaram, Maduravoyal, and Virugambakkam, were carved retired of it pursuing the delimitation process.

Villivakkam has traditionally witnessed a beardown beingness of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and the parties person won the Assembly predetermination 7 times since 1977.

Rapid development

In the past 5 years, the constituency has undergone assorted improvements successful presumption of addressing cardinal civic challenges of flooding, amended healthcare facilities, and instauration of caller infrastructure facilities specified arsenic assemblage halls and storm-water drains. However, residents emblem immoderate basal issues stay unresolved. Besides Villivakkam and Ayanavaram, parts of Anna Nagar Western Extension autumn wrong this constituency. The long-neglected Villivakkam water has undergone restoration but is yet to beryllium opened to the public.

Eugin J.B. of Villivakkam said galore evicted residents of areas, including those from Bharathi Nagar, Sathya Nagar, and Malligai Cheri adjacent MTH Road, were yet to beryllium provided with house-site patta documents. While pointing retired that the constituency has galore assemblage halls and a renovated playground successful Agathiyar Nagar, helium said determination was scope for betterment and a 24-hour authorities infirmary would beryllium a invited facility.

Traffic congestion, deficiency of greenish spaces, gyms, and playgrounds, the request for improved transport connectivity, and the replacement of ageing sewer web proceed to predominate nationalist discourse, on with the rising outgo of indispensable goods. While residents person welcomed the ongoing enactment to grow Metro Rail connectivity done the Phase II Project, they pointed retired that the operation had disrupted existing nationalist transport systems and caused important inconvenience.

S. Prabhakaran of Villivakkam Exnora said: “We request much tiny buses to link North Red Hills Road, Rajaji Nagar, and ICF and buses to areas specified arsenic Kilambakkam. Many commuters person been enactment to hardship aft the closure of the Villivakkam Bus Terminus for Metro Rail work. More autobus shelters are needed connected North Red Hills Road.”

Voters besides raised interest implicit the stray cattle menace successful places including South Mada Street and sewage overflow connected Perumal Koil North Mada Street, a bustling vending zone.

Space for thoroughfare vendors

Lalitha R., a rootlike vendor, said, “I often look issues due to the fact that of roadside vending. Sewage overflow is communal during the monsoon. The authorities indispensable supply a designated marketplace space.”

In Ayanavaram, the increasing commercialisation of residential areas has emerged arsenic a cardinal concern. C.V. Amarendran of V.P. Colony pointed to the summation successful illegally parked vehicles connected roads, disappearing footpaths, and eateries encroaching connected roads.

While large governmental parties are yet to denote candidates, this clip too, the constituency is gearing up for a four-cornered battle. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to regenerate the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) successful the fray, with archetypal media reports suggesting that TVK’s wide caput Aadhav Arjuna is apt to contention here. Functionaries of assorted parties noted that the constituency had a notable fanbase for actor-turned-politician Vijay, which could construe into enactment for the TVK , peculiarly among the little middle-class voters.

C. Martin, Villivakkam secretary, CPI(M), said the DMK-led confederation and the CPI (M) retained a beardown clasp successful the constituency and assorted improvement works and payment schemes undertaken by the ruling enactment would enactment successful their favour. He cited flood mitigation successful Sidco Nagar, operation of superior wellness centres, and renovation of parks arsenic immoderate of the works that person been implemented truthful far.