Anon descript suburb of Chennai and an uncared part of the erstwhile Purasawalkam assembly constituency, Kolathur became a star constituency overnight with the arrival of M K Stalin as the DMK candidate two assembly elections ago.
The constituency, comprising largely crowded residential neighbourhoods sandwiched between Ayanavaram and Retteri, needs a fillip on infrastructure front, feel voters. The focus for the next five years should be on expansion of Paper Mills Road, resolving the connectivity issues within the constituency and upgrading existing medical facilities.
The Government Peripheral Hospital at Periyar Nagar, which is the largest public medical facility in the locality, is long overdue for an upgrade. Inaugurated by late former chief minister M G Ramachandran in 1986, the hospital has the scope for expansion as enough space is available. Still, people from economically poor sections are forced to travel to Government Stanley Medical College or Government Kilpauk Medical College, 10km away, for emergencies and specialty treatments.
S Santhosh Kumar of Loco Works Road said the Periyar Nagar medical facility should be upgraded to be on a par with Government Royapettah Hospital. “It should be redeveloped into a state-of-the-art hospital offering all services, including surgery, under one roof,” he said.
Kolathur has three bus terminuses besides two railway stations for suburban rail connectivity. However, travelling within the constituency is a hassle. As MTC’s minibuses leave out most interior areas, residents are largely dependent on their own vehicles or autorickshaws. The open stormwater drain on 80 feet road has been converted into sewerage and is a major cause of concern for people in Kumaran Nagar and Thanigachalam Nagar.
During a visit, TOI found that renovation of parks, rehabilitation of a pond and creation of sports facilities are on at a brisk pace. Voters acknowledge that unlike in the past when Kolathur was in a state of neglect, the volume of works by their MLA was significant in the past five years. But, they also stressed that maintenance of infrastructure was the need of the hour.
C Paramesh of Theatre Street at Shanthi Nagar said a dilapidated lotus pond has been renovated into a beautiful park. “But several pockets have pot-holed streets. The quality of roads must be the focus area in the next five years,” he added.
When contacted, sources with Stalin’s office reeled out a list of projects implemented in Kolathur from 2016, including relaying roads, renovating community hall and new buildings for coroporation schools.