Tambaram, often described as the gateway to Chennai, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing suburban regions on the city’s southern fringes, driven by rapid urbanisation, expanding residential layouts, and increasing commercial activity.

With rising population density and strong road and rail connectivity, it has developed into a key urban hub under the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation. However, inadequate underground drainage coverage, shortcomings in solid waste management, persistent traffic congestion on arterial stretches such as GST Road, and pollution of water bodies remain major areas of concern.

The constituency encompasses a diverse mix of urban and semi-urban neighbourhoods, including Tambaram East and West, Selaiyur, Chitlapakkam, Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, Mudichur, Hasthinapuram, Sembakkam, and Rajakilpakkam, along with peripheral areas such as Agaramthen, Madurapakkam, and Kovilanchery.

Currently represented by S.R. Raja of the DMK, a former two-time Chairman of the Tambaram Municipality, the constituency has witnessed significant infrastructural expansion in recent years. However, the pace of urban growth has outstripped civic infrastructure, leaving residents grappling with persistent issues such as traffic congestion, inadequate drainage, waste management challenges, and gaps in basic amenities.

As Tambaram continues to transform into a major suburban centre, the constituency presents a complex mix of development opportunities and governance challenges, making it a closely-watched segment in the electoral landscape.

Traffic congestion is a major issue especially around Tambaram town, GST Road, and the bus terminus, where encroachments and heavy vehicle movement create daily bottlenecks. Road conditions in many interior areas are poor, with potholes and lack of maintenance, and these problems worsen during the monsoon due to water stagnation.

B. Mahendra Poopathi, President of the Perungalathur–Peerkankaranai Residents’ Welfare Association, said that Perungalathur serves as an entry point to Chennai city. Over two lakh people reside in the area, with 17 IT firms employing more than 30,000 people. “From Zone 4 of the Tambaram Corporation alone, we contribute between ₹62 crore and ₹70 crore in the first half of the financial year,” he said.

He pointed out that the underground drainage project for the area has been announced only as elections approach.

Flyover project

The flyover project, which began in 2020 to connect Peerkankaranai and Perungalathur with Sadanandapuram and Alappakkam, is yet to be completed. He also highlighted a shortage of police personnel in the jurisdiction. “Roads are being tarred only for namesake now, but proper relaying has not been done for the past four-and-a-half years,” he added.

He further alleged that the long-pending demand for a foot overbridge in Perungalathur, similar to those in Tambaram and Pallavaram, has not been fulfilled. Traffic congestion continues to be a major issue along the stretch from Guduvanchery to Pallavaram, despite promises by the sitting DMK MLA to ease the situation.

He also noted that delays in extending underground drainage facilities to newly added areas in and around Tambaram have led to repeated spending of ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh annually on cleaning polluted lakes and removing water hyacinth. “There is no permanent system for rainwater drainage, and our long-pending demand for water supply from the Palar river remains unfulfilled,” he added.

S.M. Govindarajan, Founder President of the United Federation of Residents’ Welfare Associations under the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, said that Shanmugam Road, the main bazaar area, continues to face severe congestion. “Movement of traffic from Shanmugam Road towards GST Road has been completely blocked due to the construction of a wall, forcing motorists to take a longer route to access the flyover that begins on Mudichur Road,” he said. He also noted the absence of a government college in Tambaram and alleged that several parks were opened hurriedly without proper planning or maintenance.

Mr. Govindarajan further highlighted that the underground drainage system remains incomplete, with untreated sewage being discharged into lakes such as Perungalathur, Sembakkam, Mudichur, and Madambakkam. “No concrete steps have been taken to restore or maintain these water bodies, which are crucial sources of water for residents,” he added.

P. Viswanathan, convener of the Chitlapakkam Residents’ Welfare Associations Coordination Committee, also urged the authorities to implement an underground drainage system in the area at the earliest, a demand being made for over 25 years. He said that lakes and surface water bodies across Chitlapakkam, Perungalathur, Sembakkam, and Madambakkam have been polluted, and stressed the need for immediate extension of underground drainage facilities to all newly added areas to address the issue.

Waste management is another significant concern, with irregular garbage collection in some neighbourhoods and dumping in open spaces and near water bodies. This leads to sanitation issues and health risks for residents. Drainage infrastructure is inadequate in several areas, resulting in frequent flooding and sewage overflow even during moderate rainfall, the residents alleged.

Stray cattle and dogs are commonly seen on roads, posing risks to pedestrians and motorists. Basic civic infrastructure such as street lighting and maintenance of public facilities is inconsistent across the constituency, with complaints about non-functional lights and poorly maintained public spaces.

The constituency MLA, S.R. Raja, said that significant development works have been carried out over the past five years, with a strong focus on stormwater drainage following the heavy floods of 2015 and 2021. “We have undertaken several stormwater drain projects, including cut-and-cover works, to prevent water stagnation during the monsoon. Underground drainage has been implemented in core Tambaram areas, and steps have been taken to extend the scheme to newly added areas such as Perungalathur, Chitlapakkam, Madambakkam, and Peerkankaranai,” he said.

He noted that the promise to upgrade Tambaram Municipality into a corporation has been fulfilled, and that the creation of the Tambaram City Police, following the trifurcation of the Greater Chennai Police, has improved policing. He also highlighted the establishment of a railway third terminal in Tambaram with premium trains such as Tejas and Vande Bharat now halting there. “Tambaram railway station handles a significant passenger load,” he added.

Mr. Raja further said that key road infrastructure has been improved, including stretches connecting GST Road, Madambakkam, Velachery, and Tambaram, while parks and basic amenities have been developed in surrounding areas. A district headquarters hospital has also been established in the constituency.

“Underground drainage works in Tambaram have been completed, and tenders have been floated to begin work in newly-added areas The corporation has strengthened its manpower and continues to work towards further improvements,” he said.

He added that traffic congestion on GST Road has reduced considerably following the construction of flyovers in Tambaram and Perungalathur. “Work is under way to ease congestion on Mudichur Road, and in the coming days, we will focus on completing these projects,” he said.

DMK representatives had won seven times in Tambaram constituency in 1970s. M.A. Vaithiyalingam of DMK was elected in 1989, 1996, 2001. S.R. Raja of DMK was elected in 2006 and subsequently, AIADMK candidate T.K.M. Chinnayya was elected in 2011. Again Mr. Raja was elected in 2016 and 2021.