Velachery
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Velachery (also called Velacheri) is a fast developing residential area in the South West Chennai, a metropolitan city in India.
Neighbouring locations include Guindy, Taramani, Adyar and Thiruvanmiyur.
It has mostly hard rock areas, and a big marshland in the southern region of the area. It is said that, this marshland was once a natural bird sanctuary. But nowadays due to encroachment and rapid real estate development the sanctuary has disappeared. Even today there is a big marshland when we move further south from velachery. The area is called Pallikaranai and it is also nowadays becoming built up.
Velachery is geographically surrounded by IIT Madras in the north-east, Taramani in the east, Adambakkam in the northwest. Most of the lands are populated with houses. As more and more IT parks are emerging on the Old Mahabalipuram road, IT & working-class people are settling in Velachery.
According to the Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr. R. Velu, Velachery would be served by the MRTS in 2007.
The TamilNadu state Minister for Local Administration, M.K. Stalin resides in velachery. This shows that the region will see more development in roads and infrastructure in the recent future.
This part of the city was considered to be backwards couple of years back, but now things have changed rapidly after a string of key residential projects, one of the pioneers in this being the development of Regal Palm Gardens near the velachery bus terminus. The success of this apartment was so profound that the realty prices have shot up in this region, and currently it is one of the most sought after residential areas in the city. The proximity to the airport and the fast development of the main roads are a definite plus, with commuting time to the heart of the city cut down very rapidly.
Just to give an idea of development in this area, 2 years back property prices were quoting at Rs.1000/sq foot, but now there is not a decent property for less than Rs.3000/sq.foot.
The most posh areas in velachery are Seethapathy Nagar, Dhandeeswaram and Vijaya Nagar. Some other areas are Ramagiri Nagar, Baby Nagar, Seshadripuram, Annai Indira Nagar, Anna Nagar, Tansi Nagar, Sarathy Nagar, Udhayam Nagar, AG's colony, Ram Nagar, Devi Karumariamman Nagar, Gangai Nagar, Venkateshwara Nagar and Velachery TNHB.
There are three arterial roads namely Velacheri Main Road, Tharamani Link Road, and Velacheri Bypass Road. The last two roads are planned to be 100 Ft Roads including the encroachments on sides seen today.
Velachery area also has a historical spot. It is the Dhandeeswaram Koil, which has inscriptions believed to be made by a great king from the mighty Chola Dynasty in the 11th century.
Not many realize that there is a really beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Sri Yoga Narasimha Swami. The main deity of Yoga Narasimhar is really beautiful. He is four-armed, with the two front arms resting on his lap symbolizing his state of Yoga. Supposed to be a very powerful deity, the author was informed by one of the bhattars that Lord Sri Narasimhar chose this place to rest in his Yogic posture.
The temple is very easily accessible by any mode of transport. Situated on the Velachery Main road, there is a bus-stand located less then 100 yards from the temple, all sorts of Metro buses (normal, express, etc..) stopping there.
But, a major concern now is that with all these rapid developments which is good in a sense, has also resulted in a few drawbacks, such as water scarcity, congestion of roads with unimaginable traffic, and not the least the damage to the marshland. It is feared that in a few years unless something concrete is done, the marshlands would all be converted into residential and commercial properties.
Since the IT parks are constructed on the OMR, real estates and rents in this part have risen up very very madly and mercilessly and not its worth.
[edit] Velachery Railway station
This project started back about 4-5 years but still showing slow or no progress.
[edit] Velachery flooded
Every November, Velachery is flooded by cyclonic rains. Government should stop approving plots in low lying areas near madipakkam road and bridge. Areas like Ram nagar, Murugu nagar are the worst affected areas in recent floods.
