Tiruvallur grapples with connectivity and traffic issues

Tiruvallur district was carved out of the erstwhile Chengalpattu MGR district in 1997 and formed as a separate district comprising the taluks of Tiruvallur, Uthukottai, Pallipattu, Ponneri, and Gummidipoondi.

At present, the district has 10 Assembly constituencies: Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, Gummidipoondi, Ponneri, Poonamallee, Madhavaram, Avadi, Maduravoyal, Ambattur, and Thiruvottriyur.

The Tiruvallur Assembly constituency includes Tiruvallur, Kadambathur, Poondi and Thiruvalangadu blocks, along with Tiruvallur Municipality. Communities such as Vanniyar, Dalit, Naidu, and Mudaliar predominantly reside here, and agriculture remains the primary occupation. Besides, the area has fast-growing towns.

In villages along the Kosasthalaiyar River such as Vidaiyur–Kalianur and Nemilichery–Melvilagam, residents are forced to travel up to 15 km during monsoon floods to cross the river.

The long-pending Vidaiyur–Kalianur bridge and Nemilichery–Melvilagam high-level bridge were completed and opened for public use after the DMK government assumed office. The long-pending Tiruvallur Government Bus Stand has been constructed and inaugurated, but is yet to be opened for public use.

Raghavendra Bhat, a resident of Tiruvallur, said the existing bus stand is located in a cramped area, causing frequent traffic congestion. Though a new bus stand has been built near the ICMR campur on the outskirts, it is yet to become operational. Despite a high number of MTC buses, the absence of a dedicated depot leads to delays in arrivals from the city, particularly during morning hours, affecting office-goers. Bus services also end early in the evening.

He added that buses currently operate from Mandeveli, Avadi, and other areas, and a depot would significantly ease these issues. There are no direct SETC services to Tirupati or Bengaluru. Traffic congestion continues to be a major concern, and restricting the entry of lorries into the town could help ease the situation. N. Radhakrishnan, a fish vendor from Thiruvalangadu, said ganja sale and consumption are widespread. He added that traders have been affected by increased taxes and rising electricity charges. Residents in the town areas face inadequate water supply, while those in rural areas struggle with poor road conditions. 

A. Ramdoss, a former ward councillor of Tiruvallur Municipality, said the underground sewer system is not being properly maintained and garbage clearance remains inadequate. Water is supplied only once every two or three days, he said. Despite repeated petitions to the MLA, no culverts have been constructed in the past 10 years, leading to rainwater entering homes during monsoon. 

Traffic congestion

With increasing traffic congestion in Tiruvallur town, projects such as the Thiruninravur–Renigunta bypass road and the Outer Ring Road from Ennore to Vandalur-Poonjeri have been initiated and are under way.

G. Subramani, a farmer from Kadambathur, said mangoes are cultivated across 9,000 acres with good yields, but farmers are unable to secure remunerative prices or export opportunities. The demand for a processing unit remains pending, he said. Despite being a district headquarters, Tiruvallur lacks a Government Arts College, forcing students to travel long distances. Educated youth from Thiruvalangadu Union commute to industrial hubs such as Sriperumbudur, Ambattur and Oragadam for employment. There is a long-standing demand for an industrial estate in Kaverirajapuram.

Farmers in the Perambakkam region near the origin of the Cooum River cultivate paddy, but due to declining groundwater levels, they are limited to two crop seasons. They have demanded a check dam across the river. Residents have also sought a high-level bridge across the Kosasthalaiyar River connecting Pudur and Ellappanayudu Pettai, as the existing causeway gets submerged during monsoon, cutting off access. 

 Incumbent MLA V.G. Rajendran said  land acquisition for the bypass road has been under way for three years and work is progressing. A SIPCOT industrial park has been established at Kaverirajapuram, and the Polivakkam–Mappedu road has been widened into a six-lane stretch.

In the 16 Assembly elections held between 1951 and 2011, the DMK has won seven times, AIADMK five times, Congress twice, and Tamil Maanila Congress and Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party once each.

Mr. Rajendran has been fielded again by the DMK for a third term, while the AIADMK has nominated former Minister Be. Vee. Ramanah as its candidate. Naam Tamizhar Katchi announced Senthilkumar as its candidate.

Published – March 29, 2026 02:09 am IST