T.N. election 2026: Water woes, poor sewer network mar Avadi constituency in transition

For M. Jayanthi, a resident of Thirumullaivoyal near Avadi, fetching drinking water is a daily compulsion. With no piped water connection near her home, she walks nearly a kilometre to a pipeline located behind a graveyard. “We have to go every day. In these hot days, it is very difficult,” she says.

The Avadi Assembly constituency in Tiruvallur district spans Avadi, Pattabiram, and Thiruninravur, and comprises industrial workers, defence personnel, and a growing middle-class population.

Located on Chennai’s north-western edge, the area has long been anchored by defence and industrial establishments such as the Heavy Vehicles Factory and the Engine Factory Avadi. At the same time, expanding residential neighbourhoods point to its shift into a key suburban commuter hub.

Most arterial roads in the constituency have been laid or relaid in recent months, which has improved commuting experience across several neighbourhoods. Public spaces such as the Paruthipattu Lake, which was renovated, are now widely used by residents, and unlike many ticketed parks in Chennai, the park remains free to access.

Distant water sources

Yet, even as long-delayed road works inch forward, gaps in basic amenities persist. In pockets like Thirumullaivoyal, residents continue to depend on distant water sources. For Ms. Jayanthi and her neighbours, the walk for water remains unavoidable, regardless of work or household schedules.

E. Vijaya, who has lived in the locality for four decades, said her house still lacks a piped connection. With summer approaching, she worries about falling groundwater levels. “We have already started getting only a trickle in the taps, and even that is yellow,” she says.

Residents across the constituency also pointed to uneven infrastructure development. While arterial roads appear improved, several interior streets remain either unlaid or poorly finished. Some recently laid stretches are already deteriorating, they said.

Solid waste management is another concern. T. Madhi, a resident, said garbage collection is irregular, leading to accumulation of waste in public spaces, including near a government school. The situation, he added, has contributed to a rise in stray dog presence in the area.

The ongoing redevelopment of the Avadi bus terminus by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has added to commuter difficulties. In the interim, passengers are using a temporary facility that lacks basic amenities such as seating, shelters, and restrooms.

V. Rajesh, who travels regularly from Avadi, said bus frequency to key destinations such as Broadway, CMBT, and Tambaram has reduced in recent months, forcing commuters to wait longer or rely on multiple connections.

In Pattabiram, residents flagged long-pending gaps in the underground sewer network. Rekha, who built her house 15 years ago, said pipelines were laid in her area but never connected. “There is still no proper drainage link,” she says.

As a result, many households rely on septic tanks, borewells, and private water tankers. Ms. Rekha also questioned the delay in completing the system and the lack of clarity on sewage treatment and disposal. “Where will the sewage go after treatment? Why is it taking so long?” she asks.

Avadi City Municipal Corporation Ward 8 councillor S. Thulasingam said that the Underground Drainage System works are actively in progress and are being implemented in a phased manner.

Published – March 27, 2026 05:00 am IST