2 months ago
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Nestled successful the northwest of Chennai, Kolathur is acold from ordinary. One of the State’s astir high-profile seats, Kolathur constituency has been represented by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for the past 15 years. Naturally, it is intimately watched for its infrastructure push, civic amenities, and efforts to tackle section challenges, peculiarly flooding.
In a four-cornered contest, Mr. Stalin is seeking a 4th consecutive word from Kolathur, aiming to clasp his stronghold portion facing acquainted rivals from the AIADMK, a veteran, who was formerly with the AIADMK and joined the debutant TVK recently, and a contender from the NTK.
Beyond the governmental battle, a conception of residents constituent to tangible developments successful galore parts of the constituency implicit the years, portion immoderate infrastructure shortfalls persist.
Prone to terrible flooding during monsoon, residents noted that operation of stormwater drains, and underground sumps successful lowlying areas person importantly reduced waterlogging. A nonmigratory of Sri Ganesh Nagar, T. Sudharsanam, who is the caput of G.J.V. Nagar Welfare Association, said that low-lying areas, northbound of the 200 Feet Road, are present flood-free aft 2 ample underground sumps were constructed to pump retired stagnant rainwater.
“Based connected the recommendations of a committee led by erstwhile IAS serviceman V. Thiruppugazh (Advisory Committee for Mitigation and Management of Flood Risk successful the Chennai Metropolitan Area), the sumps with a capableness of astir 1.65 lakh litres each were constructed adjacent Venus Nagar and Selvi Nagar. It collects rainwater from lowlying areas, and h2o is pumped into the main canal,” helium said.
Residents highlighted broader civic improvements successful the constituency. Conservancy measures are better, and nationalist infrastructure has seen upgrades. The Periyar Nagar Government Hospital has been upgraded, with further facilities and specialties. The Kolathur tank, erstwhile neglected, has been rejuvenated, and features parks and recreational spaces.
Kolathur was the launchpad for 1 of the State’s flagship initiatives - Muthalavar Padaippagam, a learning cum co-working space. The archetypal centre was opened successful Agaram (November 4, 2024), followed by 2 much successful Periyar Nagar and Jawahar Nagar. The inaugural has gained popularity among students, civilian work aspirants, and entrepreneurs. With slots for the learning portion priced astatine ₹5 for 3.5 hours, the Agaram centre has recorded utilisation of 97,361 slots truthful far.
‘Affordable space’
Mohamed Akram, a nonmigratory of Kolathur, who is preparing for NEET-PG, values the abstraction for its affordability, distraction-free environment, and maintenance. “Private learning spaces outgo ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 a month. Here, a azygous slot costs ₹5. It is person to location and helps maine absorption better,” helium said.
That said, residents enactment that respective issues request to beryllium resolved. M. Murthy, secretary, Kolathur Residents Welfare Association, said astir 2,000 families surviving successful the Kolathur water country for astir 40 years are yet to person pattas. “While families successful immoderate areas received pattas, those successful others brought nether the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board were besides covered. But residents successful parts of Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Siva Shakthi Nagar extension, M.G.R. Nagar, Gangaiamman Koil Street, and Kannagi Nagar Church Street person been near out. We anticipation the authorities volition resoluteness the contented soon,” helium said.
Advocate and societal activistic S. Venugopal, who resides successful V.V. Nagar, said that encroachments persist on North Redhills Road, Kolathur Main road, and First Main Road successful Poompuhar Nagar. “Unauthorised car sheds and store extensions are a communal sight. Authorities are yet to instrumentality tribunal orders. They should besides program to widen the Kolathur Main Road, which is not adjacent 20 feet wide,” helium said. He added that transport connectivity could beryllium improved by introducing tiny buses to link areas specified arsenic Villivakkam, Koyambedu, and Anna Nagar.
Uneven levels successful parts of the SWD web is different issue. While acknowledging that flooding has reduced overall, a resident, who did not privation to beryllium named, said, “In immoderate areas of G.K.M. Colony and Jawahar Nagar, the drains request to beryllium rectified.”
A shopkeeper connected Redhills Road said astir works were concentrated successful areas specified arsenic Poompuhar Nagar and Periyar Nagar. Core areas of Kolathur, peculiarly from Anna Statue to Retteri junction, request akin attention.
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K. Sekarbabu said respective works person been taken up to amended the constituency. The constitution of an arts and subject assemblage of the HR & CE section successful Kolathur was among the cardinal highlights. He added that a span astatine Level Crossing I, the groundwork for which began erstwhile Mr. Stalin was a Member of the Legislative Assembly and was followed up for implicit 13 years, was completed and opened successful 2023. This has importantly reduced question clip for commuters betwixt Kolathur and Anna Nagar, helium said. Another large enactment was a caller h2o attraction works adjacent the Retteri Lake done which h2o volition beryllium supplied to areas successful Kolathur.
