K. John, a resident of Kamaraj Nagar in Perungudi, spends Rs. 80 to get home from the MRTS station every day.
Hundreds of others living in the locality too have to either shell out huge amounts for autorickshaws, or walk long distances, just to get to the main road.
Formerly a panchayat, Perungudi is said to generate high revenues through professional taxes, thanks to the large number of IT and other companies that have their offices here.
Several IT professionals also live in the area. Eight residential colonies including Kamaraj Nagar and Kurinji Nagar house lakhs of residents. After the expansion of the city limits, the locality now falls under wards 184 and 186 of the Chennai Corporation.
Perungudi is connected to Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) through Anna Nedunchalai. “But we do not have a public transport system. Though the Perungudi MRTS railway station is just 1.3 km from Perungudi Lake, there are no drive-worthy roads to get there.
Autorickshaws charge exorbitant rates for this distance, but we are forced to spend on them, as there is no other option,” said Mr. John.
Hundreds of school and college students have to walk 3 km every day to reach the nearest bus stop on OMR.
“It is impossible to walk during rainy days and in the night. There are a lot of miscreants around the lake, and women and senior citizens find it risky to walk back home at night,” said V. Ramanan, president of green acres owners association in Kamaraj Nagar.
The nearest health centre is in Velachery, which is around 3 km from the locality. “But due to the lack of direct connectivity one has to travel double the distance through the circuitous Taramani Link Road. This has been causing a lot of inconvenience to residents, especially senior citizens,” said Mr. John.
In a study conducted by the residents themselves, they found that it is possible to link the western end of Anna Nedunchalai to MRTS Perungudi Station via Annai Sandhya Nagar Main Road, with suitable arrangements to cross the dormant tracks of the railway yard.
“We even met the transport secretary asking for bus services or at least a mini bus service. But officials said there were no proper roads to ply such vehicles. We have now submitted a proposal for motorable roads,” said Mr. Ramanan.
