Carved out of the Villivakkam constituency during the delimitation process, the Ambattur constituency is one of the largest in Tiruvallur district with over 3.53 lakh voters.
With several industries and an industrial estate having been established in the locality, the majority of the settlers belong to the middle class. Many of those employed at the units in the industrial estate are residents of this constituency.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has fielded sitting councillor and the party’s MGR youth wing secretary V. Alexander. The Pattali Makkal Katchi’s candidate K. N. Sekar was chairman of the erstwhile Ambattur municipality.
Hassan Moulana, the son of former MP J.M. Aaron Rashid, of the Indian National Congress and J. Constantine Ravindran of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam are also in the fray.
Poll promises
What is common to most candidates is their poll promises. While Mr. Alexander promises to implement the underground drainage and water supply schemes pending for over a decade and convert open floodwater channels to a stormwater drain network, others, including Mr. Sekar, plan to set up a government hospital, a separate high school for boys and a government college in the locality.
Residents of Ambattur note that areas in the constituency have got streetlights and better interior roads.
The much-neglected water bodies in Ambattur and Korattur are finally getting a makeover.
After a decade-long battle, the Ambattur OT bus terminus now has a roof.
However, many complain that they continue to grapple with civic issues like traffic congestion on Chennai Tiruvallur High Road and floodwater channels carrying sewage and effluents.
Playground
K. Bharathi, a resident of Ambattur, said there was no proper playground in the vast locality.
Though the CTH Road has been widened into a four-lane facility on some stretches, it has not helped much in easing traffic congestion. Residents also complained that ward committee meetings were not being held in the zone due to lack of quorum. This has delayed the progress of development projects in the area.
K. Varadan of Government Tax and Bill Payers Association said: “Many promises were made about widening the Ambattur road overbridge near the Uzhavar Sandhai, but motorists continue to struggle for space on the narrow bridge. I paid Rs. 7,500 as deposit towards a sewerage network a decade ago and am still waiting for a house service connection.”
Another issue residents want addressed is flooding in areas like Menambedu. They also want work on a railway underbridge at Korattur level crossing to be completed fast.
