Recently opened boating facilities at Manali, Madhavaram, Tiruvottiyur and Kallikuppam, operated by Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), are emerging as affordable getaways during summer holidays.

Infrastructure: Manali lake (29 acres, Rs 25.44 crore), Madhavaram lake (66 acres), Tiruvottiyur boat house (20.17 acres, Rs 4.62 crore), Thangal Eri Park in Kallikuppam (11.7 acres, Rs 9 crore). Combined cost for Manali and Madhavaram: Rs 25.44 crore.

Activities: Pedal boats, kayaks, motorboats, water scooters, aqua zorbing. Landscaped parks, children's play areas, walking tracks.

Visitation and revenue: Manali and Madhavaram average over 7,000 visitors per month. January revenue Rs 12 lakh; March-April Rs 6 lakh each. Tiruvottiyur inaugural month 5,550 visitors, dropped to 2,000 recently.

Pricing: Motorboat ride (10 minutes, up to 8 people) Rs 500.

Safety: Life jackets mandatory. Children under 10 not allowed on pedal boats. Children under 3 generally not allowed on rides (exceptions on larger motorboats). Rescue teams on standby.

Challenges: Shallow water at Tiruvottiyur limits motorboat operations but allows kayaking. Unfinished walkways at Manali. Better roofing needed in waiting areas. Standing for selfies prohibited.

NHAI has issued a work order for new Chennai bypass access at Tiruneermalai, connecting the corridor with the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), the airport and southern Chennai. A further entry and exit at Kallikuppam, near Menambedu, is planned to connect Ambattur with areas north of the Chennai-Tiruvallur railway line and ease travel for residents along Ambattur-Puzhal Road. The service road currently ends at Kallikuppam due to a railway track.

The Vanagaram toll plaza will move to Tiruneermalai. Surapattu’s plaza will be replaced by staggered, barrier-free Multi Lane Free Flow tolling at Athipattu, near Decathlon, and Menambedu. FASTag detection, cameras and automatic number plate recognition will support electronic collection; e-notices will be issued when collection fails.

Earlier NHAI plans include a six-lane vehicular underpass at Vanagaram Junction and a new Cooum causeway between Ambattur and Maduravoyal. Indicative annual collections, based on 2025-26 figures, are ₹111.49 crore at Tiruneermalai and ₹90.35 crore at Athipattu-Menambedu. NHAI is introducing MLFF at 16 toll plazas nationally; three are in Tamil Nadu: Nemili and Chennasamudram on NH-48 and Paranur on NH-45. Trial runs are under way there.

Residents, commuters and traders are urging Southern Railway and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to expedite the pedestrian and two-wheeler underpass at Level Crossing 6, Ambattur railway station. The project links Chennai-Thiruvallur High Road (CTH) and Kallikuppam Road; construction debris, uncovered iron rods, poor lighting and daily track trespassing pose safety risks. Work began in November 2024 with an 18-month deadline, missed by five months. GCC says 85% of its work is complete and the remainder is expected by the end of July or first week of August; inauguration depends on railway work on station-platform footpaths and stairs. The ₹11.40-crore project is jointly funded by GCC and Southern Railway, with 90% of work assigned to GCC and 10% to the railway. The subway is 238 metres long and 6 metres wide, including a 4-metre carriageway and 2-metre footpath; GCC is building 98 metres of approach roads on both sides, and Southern Railway is undertaking 42 metres of culvert work. A Varadharajapuram shop owner said daily earnings fell from ₹3,000 to ₹300–₹500; rent is ₹12,000. Ambattur station connects the Old Town bus terminus and Industrial Estate.

A malfunctioning traffic signal at Ramaswami Mudalaiyar School junction near Ambattur has caused congestion, wrong-side driving and inconvenience to motorists. Residents have urged authorities to restore normal traffic flow. The 12-km Ambattur–Red Hills Road connects Puzhal, Surapet, Kallikuppam, Kathirvedu and Ambattur OT.

Residents across Ambattur, including Ambattur Estate, Kallikuppam and Korattur, say infrastructure has not kept pace with the area’s large industrial cluster, dense housing and population growth. They seek 100% sewer connections; households without underground drainage discharge sewage into stormwater drains. Residents report frothing, foul odour and declining water quality in Korattur, Ambattur and Puzhal lakes, and frequent rainy-season overflows from ageing sewers that are inadequately desilted.

The United Welfare Associations of Ambattur has called for expanded internal roads, continuous footpaths, stricter solid-waste enforcement and time-bound grievance redressal. CTH Road widening remains incomplete, with narrow stretches between Padi and Avadi carrying buses, goods vehicles and industrial traffic. Kallikuppam and Puthur lack adequate connectivity and bus facilities; subway and other works have been delayed for over two to three years.

Ambattur lacks a full-fledged government hospital; residents rely on Kilpauk or Stanley, while local primary health centres have limited hours and staff. Other reported gaps include a government higher secondary school for boys, playgrounds, footpaths and bus shelters.