Encroachments, traffic congestion remain core issues in this densely populated area

Anna Nagar, one of Chennai’s most densely populated and well-planned residential neighbourhoods, is steadily emerging as a prominent commercial hub.

Named after former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and developed after the India International Trade and Industries Fair in 1968, Anna Nagar features a grid layout of wide avenues and residential plots, a standardised addressing system and designated green spaces.

The Anna Nagar Assembly segment comprises Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Aminjikarai, ICF South Colony, and parts of Arumbakkam and West Choolaimedu. Besides avenues in Anna Nagar, some of the arterial roads in this Assembly segment include parts of New Avadi Road, Nelson Manickam Road, E.V.R Periyar Salai (Poonamallee High Road), and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai (100-feet Road).

Unregulated parking, encroachment of walkways by mobile eateries, traffic congestion and flood mitigation measures remain major concerns. R. Sukumar, president of the Federation of Anna Nagar Residents Associations (FOARA), said the mushrooming of mobile eateries encroaching walkways in residential areas has forced pedestrians to walk on roads. He demanded residential areas in Anna Nagar be declared no-vending zones and mobile eateries be shifted to non-residential localities.

G. Suresh, another resident, said indiscriminate parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers along Second Avenue and Shanthi Colony, especially near restaurants and supermarkets, has reduced motorable space. Nearly half the carriageway is occupied by parked vehicles, with conditions worsening on weekends due to higher footfall.

Three key waterways such as the Virugambakkam–Arumbakkam canal, the Cooum river and the Otteri Nullah, run through this Assembly segment, serving as rainwater drains. Residents called for faster flood mitigation works and steps to curb pollution.

A ₹130-crore project has been sanctioned to divert surplus water from Ambattur lake, currently discharged into the Otteri Nullah. A cut-and-cover channel is under construction near the Maduravoyal bypass, said Mr. Sukumar, who demanded expeditious completion of a similar project along the 100-feet Road before the monsoon.

He also flagged the discharge of industrial effluents into the Otteri Nullah in Ambattur, leading to groundwater contamination. M.G. Raju, a long-time resident of N Block, said though a retaining wall had been built along the Otteri Nullah, there were no provisions for stormwater inflow. He also pointed to the dumping of construction debris along the waterway. Residents have also sought the widening of a narrow stretch of E.V.R. Periyar Salai in Aminjikarai, which becomes a traffic choke point in the evenings.

Sudha Ramalingam, advocate and resident of Tamilar Veedhi, said there are no parks in and around Padmanabha Nagar, Loganathan Nagar, and nearby areas in Arumbakkam. She also said the newly-built bridge across the Virugambakkam–Arumbakkam canal at Tamilar Veedhi is being used for unauthorised parking. She called for removal of encroachments, stricter parking regulation, installation of parking meters, and pedestrian walkways.

Residents of Arumbakkam also said they continue to live in fear of flooding during heavy rain. Reduced carrying capacity of the Virugambakkam–Arumbakkam canal leads to overflow and inundation in MMDA Colony Main Road and adjoining areas. Despite repeated complaints, desilting has not been carried out adequately, they said, and demanded restoration of the canal’s full capacity.

Electoral past

Politically, the constituency has largely been a DMK stronghold since 1977, barring 1991 and 2011 elections. DMK stalwarts including former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, former Ministers K. Anbazhagan, and Arcot N. Veerasamy have represented the Assembly segment in the past.

With the Assembly elections approaching, the constituency is under focus due to its consistently low voter turnout. Since 1991 Assembly elections, the voter turnout has ranged between 50% and 60%, except in 2011 when it reached about 66%.

In the 2001 elections, voter turnout dropped to 42.59%, among the lowest in the city. Another closely watched aspect of this Assembly segment in the ensuing elections is the impact of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The electorate has declined by nearly 35% following the SIR here.

Published – March 26, 2026 05:03 am IST