Minister berths for Velachery, R K Nagar MLAs trigger civic expectations

Chennai: North Chennai’s R K Nagar constituency, once represented by the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, on Thursday regained political prominence after its MLA, Marie Wilson, managing director of Jeppiaar University, was sworn in finance minister. And, for the first time, Velachery has got a minister — MLA R Kumar, a civil engineer, is now state information technology and artificial intelligence minister.Residents in both constituencies say the ministerial berths have raised hopes of quicker solutions to long-pending civic and infrastructure issues. Velachery, dotted with gated communities, apartment clusters and active resident welfare associations, has emerged as one of the city’s most vocal constituencies on civic governance. Residents are demanding revival of Velachery Lake, restoration of Veerangal Odai (water channel) and removal of encroachments from waterbodies such as Kallukuttai — all critical for flood mitigation.“Our expectations have grown because our MLA is now a minister. We took him to several places during the campaigning days. Velachery lake has to be desilted and the bund wall must be removed after clearing encroachments in line with high court orders. Sewage discharge into stormwater drains must stop,” said Geetha Ganesh of AGS Colony. “We also asked for a zero-odour pumping station and he assured us that it would be done,” she added.Another key demand is the revamp of Besant Nagar’s Elliot’s Beach, one of Chennai’s busiest public spaces and a tourism hotspot. Residents want illegal shops removed, better pedestrian access and organised parking facilities.Kumar inspected several civic hotspots, including Elliot’s Beach, and met multiple RWAs in recent days. “I have a lot of ideas, and the chief minister has given me this opportunity. People will see results soon,” he said.On the other end of the spectrum is R K Nagar, with dense lower-income neighbourhoods, slums and resettlement colonies. It faces a different set of urban challenges. Residents are demanding two long-pending railway flyovers at Korukkupet to decongest traffic, the restoration of sewage-filled North Buckingham Canal and stronger mitigation around the Kodungaiyur dumpyard, parts of which fall within the constituency.Residents also want a govt hospital, saying many still depend on the distant Stanley Government Hospital for treatment.“The minister should bring people-friendly projects and allocate funds. We are happy RK Nagar has become a star seat again after ten years, and basic problems such as sewage mixing in drinking water must be fixed,” said R Boopalan, a resident of Tondiarpet.Wilson, who recently inspected the Kodungaiyur dumpyard, has instructed officials to speed up restoration measures. “I will meet residents soon and discuss the development plan,” he said.