If there is one thing that one can complain about it is the bad condition of the roads in chennai. With Chennai based properties becoming the next most sought after destination for the IT sector and work on the IT highway in full swing a number of areas which were probably best described as peaceful green villages away from the hustle, bustle of the city are becoming the nerve centres of chennai’s urban life.

Most of the development that has taken place in this region is probably it’s close proximity to the IT Highway. As far as the land prices go it has gone up at least 21/2 times in the last seven years. Chennai city has become a promoter’s paradise and one can see new high-rises mushrooming all over.’

Most of the areas around the Chennai city was covered by paddy fields. Most of the roads were kuccha. Where the land rates were as less as one rupee a square foot. A rate that has multiplied in thousands.

Initially the property around Chennai city was almost remote, with low frequency in buses passing through these areas. Spotting snakes was commonplace. There was no drainage system in place. Residents were totally dependant on well water as metro water was a distant dream.’ Now however, the entire situation is topsy turvy.

When you take a walk down some of the roads you feel like you’re walking in T Nagar. All the major shops have set up outlets here. Including starting from multi-speciality hospitals to good schools. Can you imagine some locations even have a music sabha. However, if there is one thing that one can complain about it is the bad condition of the roads. Though the roads and the infrastructure in general needs a great deal of improvement even now, these places have come a long way from being a remote locations to a well connected urban locations.

However, development comes at a price. The claiming of large portions of the Velachery swamp (in particular which is home to a variety of resident and migrant birds) for the construction of a ‘technology park’ is a cause for concern. The existence of the Nanmangalam forest (which is located between Velachery and Tambaram) is also threatened by the increasing population all around.