Perungalathur

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Perungalathur had a population of 50,000 (it is close to 50,000 as of Nov 2006). Males constitute 41% of the population and females 59%. Perungalathur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Perungalathur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Location

Perungalathur is located on NH45 highway between Tambaram and Vandalur. Perungalathur and Peerkankaranai are twin towns which share and complement much of their resources and infrastructures alike. It is well connected by rail and road links. Located close to Tambaram, all south bound trains can be boarded from Tambaram. Long distance bus & Indian Railways reservation counters are available in Tambaram. Chennai international & domestic airports is around 13 km from Perungalathur.

The Chennai bypass road NH4 forks-off from NH-45 after Peerkankaranai and is north bound towards Maduravoyal. An underpass to access NH-4 from Tambaram is now open for traffic on NH-45 between Irumbuliyur and Peerkankaranai.

Old Perungalathur was the first to be inhabited and is located between Tambaram and Mudichur on Tambaram Mudichur road

Corporation status Awaited

Perungalathur Town Set to Upgrade as Corporation soon. A proposal was made to TN Government to make Tambaram as Chennai Tambaramcorporation zone .Tambaram corporation will encompass two municipalities, four town panchayats in Perungalathur, Peerkankaranai, Madambakkam and Chitlapakkam, and seven village panchayats including Mudichur, Medavakkam, Vengaivasal, Agaramthen.

A proposal for creating three independent municipal corporations Tambaram, Pallavaram ,Avadi under the consideration of the government, official sources privy to the de velopments said. "We have sent the proposal a few weeks ago. It is under consideration of the government," an official with the commissionerate of municipal administration.

Transportation

The proximity of Tambaram railway junction and Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur has given Perungalathur good connectivity with places like Chennai, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram. Industrial estates like Guindy, Maraimalai Nagar, Paddapai, Oragadam and Sriperumbudur are easily accessible via road or rail. Residents of adjoining areas like Peerkankaranai, Sadanandhapuram, Old Perungalathur Annai Indra Nagar and RMK Nagar avail transport facilities from Perungalathur. Perungalathur is the hub for most of tourist bus operators and many have offices opposite to first railway gate. All MTC buses towards Vandalur passes through Perungalathur.

The Railway station and Bus stop are located nearby each other giving commuters an option to take either mode of transport based on availability and urgency. Auto-rickshaws and Share-autos can be hired on NH-45 and also from either side of first & second railway gate for accessing interior areas. The bus-stop for Peerkankaranai on NH-45 is called Erikarai stopping. It is easier to access Srinivasa Nagar, Velu Nagar, KK Nagar, StandStone Anurag Gardens & The Pentecostal Mission from this stopping.

Traffic congestion occurs on NH-45 during morning and evening rush hour at first and second railway gates as the railway crossing is close to NH-45 in addition to the high volume of pedestrian and two wheeler traffic. Traffic police are deployed regularly. Proposal is underway to close one of these gates to extend the railway platform and enable usage of 12 CAR EMU trains in Tambaram - Chengalpattu section.

Perungalathur railway station is about 30 km from Chennai Central. Southern Railway is currently renovating and expanding the station, including extension of platforms. The two existing platforms were laid during the British era when most trains had nine compartments and are now being extended to accommodate 12-car trains. Currently, over 10,000 commuters use the station daily. All 84 suburban trains halting at the station have 12 compartments. A new rail line exclusively for express trains is also planned.

Living in Perungalathur

Life in Perungalathur is peaceful away from the pollution and hassles of the city. The place is green with trees of Plantain, Coconut Palm, Mango and Neem common in most households. The Vandalur hill is on the south eastern side and provides a picturesque view for NH-45 motorists and residents alike. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has a sapling center under the foothill. Bamboo and Eucalyptus forests can be seen on either side of the road to Sadanandhapuram.

The town has two lakes, one in Peerkankaranai, adjacent to NH-45 and another Perungalathur lake behind the Vedanta Desika Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Much of Peerkankaranai Lake was filled during the widening of NH-45 highway and the remaining area is shrinking due to dumping of solid wastes and encroachments. Perungalathur Lake gives the name to this town meaning “A Place with Big Lake” (Perum – Kulam – Urr). These two lakes keep the water table up resulting is sufficient amount of water for its residents throughout the year. Much of the water from open wells and borewells is not suitable for drinking due to its relative hardness. Piped drinking water supply is available from town panchayat on street taps and piped connection to houses are also provided at a nominal fee. Palar water lines are also available in few places in Perungalathur. In this village a social service organization called Global new life center (Home for the orphan and needy children) is running from 1994.

Peerkankaranai has a Government Higher Secondary School and a few schools like St.Annes, St.John's & Ebenezer Matriculation School & Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial School(SSM). Renowned schools and colleges are also situated in Tambaram. Madras Christian College, Crescent Engineering College, GKM Engineering College and SRM Deemed University are easily accessible from Perungalathur. Manavalakalai Mandram for practicing YOGA is available on Manimekalai street on the way to Government Higher secondary school. Internet cafes and online placing agency E360 situated on Kamarajar Nedunchalai.

Indian Overseas Bank, City Union Bank, HDFC Bank, Indian Bank, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Bank of India, State Bank Of Hyderabad, Karur Vysya Bank, Pallavan Grama Bank, ICICI Bank, Kancheepuram Central Co-operative Bank & Syndicate Bank have branches in Perungalathur & Peerkankaranai. HDFC bank has foreign exchange services. Syndicate, Indian, AXIS, SBI, ICICI and HDFC banks have ATM's while IOB, the first bank to start operations in Perungalathur has recently opened its ATM near the IOB Bank itself. AXIS, SBI, ICICI, HDFC & Indian Bank has got an ATM on Srinivasa Raghavan road close to first railway gate and a second HDFC ATM is close Perungalathur railway gate. TNEB office is located on the road to Sadanandhapuram. BSNL Chennai Telephones has commissioned a Remote Switching Unit (RSU) exchange at Perungalathur. BSNL telephone exchange is located on Sanjay Gandhi Street close to Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Peerkankaranai police station is adjacent to the Bus stop on NH-45. The Post Office at Srinivasa Nagar serves for Peerkankarani & Perungalathur areas. Apollo Pharmacy has a "Any Time Medicine" service outlet on Kalaingar Nedunchalai.

Perungalathur has a Primary Health Center (PHC) & Additional Health Center and a couple of private nursing homes and clinics. As with many places in Chennai, mosquitos are a perennial problem. Perungalathur and Peerkankaranai each has a public library and few small public parks are scattered all over the town. Two marriage halls and a community center is located in the middle of the town. Perungalathur has decent restaurants and many road side eateries. Many restaurants have opened up on NH-45 front, catering mainly for highway travelers and motorist. The town doesn’t have a petrol pump, the closest being in Mudichur and Vandalur.

The inner roads are wide, vehicular traffic is mostly confined to Kalaingar and Kamraj Nedunchalai and on access roads to railway station and bus stop. Most of the roads have black tops and some are concreted.

Till the late 1980s Standard Motors(SMPL) had their works in Perungalathur and employed a huge workforce in manufacturing of Van, tempos & India first luxury car, The Rover. Employees of Standard Motor made Perungalathur their home and a vibrant village developed and thrived. Indian Overseas Bank was established during that period for disbursement of salary to SMPL employees. Even after the closure of the unit this place survived because of its proximity to Chennai and Chengalpattu.

Recent Developments

Proposed Monorail Corridor: Recently, the Govt. has announced the following routes as part of Phase 1 of the Chennai Monorail network.

The Highways Department and Southern Railway will construct a road overbridge and a pedestrian subway to replace two level crossings near the Perungalathur railway station.A road overbridge would replace the LC-32 and had been aligned with the proposed Rs.50 crore Eastern Bypass project of the Highways Department. The Eastern Bypass would connect Velachery Main Road at Rajakilpakkam and GST Road near the Perungalathur station. The road overbridge would have ramps descending on Eastern Bypass, officials said. A pedestrian subway would be built to replace LC-33 and once completed, the level crossings could be closed down.

Residents of New Perungalathur have urged the authorities to start the work at the earliest as they are facing severe traffic congestion presently.As of March 2012, the project was waiting for No Objection certificate from NHAI. As of April 2016,the ROB work started and is in progress.

Vandalur to Velachery (23 km)

Route: Vandalur - Perungalathur -Irumbuliyur -Tambaram East - Sembakkam - Gowrivakkam - Medavakkam - Pallikaranai - Narayanapuram -Velachery

Neighbourhoods

Place of Worship

Educational Institutions

Perungalathur and Peerkankaranai have surrounded by more than 10 schools and other educational institutions. Well known of them are

Special Economic Zone

Shriram Properties Limited in joint venture with SUN-Apollo is developing a 4.8 million SEZ in the erstwhile standard motor property. The Gateway is spread over an area of 57.94 acres (234,500 m²) and will comprise an IT SEZ, retail mall, multiplex & serviced apartments. However this SEZ is not fully occupied to its capacity due to lesser demand.