K.Venketash, a senior manager in a manufacturing unit in Ambattur Industrial Estate, spent most of his childhood in a single-bedroom flat in Mogappair. His school was located about 500 metres from his house and his parents worked at the Ambattur Industrial Estate, around two km away. Venketash however always dreamed of owning a spacious independent house away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The dream came true two years ago, when 42-year-old Venketash constructed a house on a plot in Thiruvallur, around 50 km from the city, brought by his father two decades ago. “Everyone wishes to live in a spacious house. Thiruvallur is ideal for me as the place is not far away from my earlier neighbourhood [Mogappair] and is well connected,” said Venketash.
More residents in the western and north-western parts of the city including Mogappiar, Padi, Ambattur, Vannurpet, Maduravoyal, Annoor are increasingly moving towards Thiruvallur and the areas around it, including Veeppampattu, Putlur, Pattabiram, Sevvapet and Thiruneniravurur. One of the reasons for the migration to the temple town is the easy connectivity to areas like Mogappair, Ambattur and Anna Nagar. Further, the developing around Tiruvallur are less congested and less polluted.
“ With Sriperumbudur turning into an industrial hub, especially for the manufacturing sector, the areas between Sriperumbudur and Thiruvallur are fast growing,” said S. Shanmugam, a real estate dealer in Thiruvallur. Better connectivity between Thiruvallur and the central parts of the city is another reason for residents in the western suburbs to move to the outskirts.
Every day, on an average, around 260 suburban trains are being operated on the Chennai – Thiruvallur rail line with more than two lakh commuters using the services daily. Most roads up to Thiruvallur are bitumen-topped and has regular bus service.
The price of housing is another factor. In Thiruvallur, flats and independent houses are still available at affordable rates.
