By Mukesh 
Poonamallee constituency, the western gateway to the city, has a mixed population comprising urban, semi-urban, and rural residents, with a total electorate of 3.32 lakh.
The southern part of the constituency houses significant industrial activity, while agricultural villages extend towards the north. The region is grappling with rapid urbanisation, particularly on the outskirts of Poonamallee town and Thirumazhisai.
Although several infrastructure projects, such as Metro Rail, flyovers, and the Outer Ring Road, have been developed over the past five years, the constituency continues to face gaps in basic infrastructure. These include the need for a functional underground sewer system, motorable interior roads and a reliable drinking water supply.
Notably, Poonamallee town, after which the reserved constituency is named, lacks an underground sewer network. Despite housing the Chembarambakkam lake, the area continues to face persistent water supply problems.
K. Achuthan, a social worker, pointed to persistent civic issues near the Poonamallee bus stand. “The area faces severe traffic congestion owing to the presence of civil courts and sub-registrar offices. School children find it difficult to commute. Ongoing Metro Rail works have left the roads uneven and not properly relaid, worsening traffic snarls and causing inconvenience to motorists. Despite being a municipality, many basic infrastructure facilities are still lacking,” he said.
Kasi Viswanathan, a resident of Poonamallee, said, There is also no primary health centre (PHC) in Kattupakkam area, and the constituency does not have a government arts college. For most essential services, we have to travel to the city.”
The constituency is home to thousands of small-and-medium-scale industries spread across Thirumazhisai, Kakkalur, Senneerkuppam, Varadharajapuram, and Nemam. With a burgeoning population and a high concentration of industries, traffic has emerged as a major concern in areas such as Kattupakkam, Mangadu Junction, Kumananchavadi, Nazarathpet, and Kakkalur.
Unrepaired roads
Though national highways passing through the constituency witness a heavy volume of traffic, roads around Poonamallee town have remained unrepaired for years and are congested during both peak and non-peak hours. The area is also affected by encroachments by autorickshaws and share autos, particularly near the bus stand, where stormwater drains remain incomplete.
M. Haridoss, an advocate, said there has been no effort to revive the electric crematorium, “Garbage bins are in disarray, there is no proper piped water supply, and sanitary conditions are poor,” he said.
A four-cornered contest is underway for the upcoming Assembly poll. The ruling party has fielded its sitting MLA, A. Krishnaswamy, who had also served twice as a Member of Parliament from Sriperumbudur. He won the by-election in 2019 and was re-elected in 2021 in this constituency. T.A. Elumalai is contesting from Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). Naam Tamizhar Katchi candidate Megala and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam candidate Kutty alias Prakasam are also in the fray.
T.A. Ezhumalai of the AMMK said, “This constituency has a large population of underprivileged people. With the intention of serving them, I became MLA in 2016 and got a government hospital for the constituency.”
DMK candidate A. Krishnaswamy said most of the promises made during the 2021 Assembly elections have been fulfilled.
“While serving as an opposition MLA during the AIADMK regime, I moved a calling attention motion seeking Metro Rail services. Metro Rail work that commenced in 2021 have now been completed, and the project’s commissioning was delayed only due to Prime Minister’s scheduling constraints,” he said.
He had also promised to implement an underground drainage system for Poonamallee municipality. “Tenders have been floated for the ₹280-crore project, and the foundation stone has already been laid,” he said.
He further said that Poonamallee, the birthplace of Vaishnava saint Thirukatchi Nambi, is home to the historic Varadharaja Perumal temple. “The temple chariot, which had remained non-functional for nearly 70 years, has now been restored and was successfully taken out in procession during the Masi festival,” he added.