Manapakkam, a village panchayat in Kancheepuram district, was merged with Chennai Corporation in 2011 to enable urban development. In three decades, it has attracted multinational companies including Hitachi Solutions, Larsen & Toubro, and DLF IT Park. Despite commercial hub status and posh residential areas near Guindy, the locality lacks basic amenities.

Infrastructure issues:

• River Road has been in poor condition for seven months with uneven surface, potholes, and frequent congestion
• Mugalivakkam-Manapakkam Road suffers from dangerous potholes
• Roads were dug up for sewerage and water connections; construction completed but roads not relaid
• Underground drainage system constructed; houses on Mugalivakkam-Manapakkam Road not yet linked, causing stagnant sewage
• Recurring flooding poses threat, particularly during monsoon season
• Stray cattle on roads add to safety concerns

Planned infrastructure:

• Fintech City: ₹116 crore investment, in process
• Fintech Tower: ₹254 crore, in process
• River Road widening: completion in two months
• Mugalivakkam-Manapakkam Road restoration: commenced, likely completed in ten days

Residents report poor quality repairs that deteriorate after rainfall and express concerns about public health hazards and safety risks from infrastructure gaps.

Tamil Nadu is establishing a dedicated Global Capability Centre (GCC) corridor to support Chennai's expanding tech and corporate sector.

Corridors covered:

• OMR (Rajiv Gandhi Salai): 45 km IT corridor from Madhya Kailash to Mahabalipuram/ECR; identified stretch between Madhya Kailash and Kelambakkam (25 km) through Perungudi, Thoraipakkam, Sholinganallur, Navalur, Kelambakkam
• Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road: 10-14 km, east-west corridor linking GST Road to OMR; current proposal covers 7.4 km between Pallavaram Bridge and Thoraipakkam Junction
• Mount-Poonamallee High Road: 11 km arterial road through Nandambakkam, Manapakkam, Porur to Poonamallee; key commercial and IT corridor with projects like DLF IT Park

Key features:

• Enhanced Floor Space Index (FSI) for eligible GCC campuses to enable additional office space
• Infrastructure improvements for roads, public transport, water supply, sewage, drainage, electricity, digital infrastructure
• Current average land price: ₹5,000-10,500 per sq. ft; average 2BHK rent: ₹18,000-45,000 per month
• GCC sector added 94,000 jobs in 2023-24

Expected impact: Increased demand for housing, retail, hospitality and services in surrounding areas; establishment as major employment hubs.

The Koyambedu–Butt Road stretch is 12km long and part of Corridor-5, the 44.6km Madhavaram–Sholinganallur line in Phase-2, featuring 13 elevated stations. It will connect with Phase-1 at Koyambedu through a skywalk. The line will serve residents of Virugambakkam, Manapakkam, and Ramapuram with quicker access to the city, office-goers to Porur IT corridor, visitors to Chennai Trade Centre, and traders to Koyambedu wholesale market. The 14.5km Poonamallee bypass–Vadapalani line is expected to start in February 2026, forming the first Phase-2 operational corridor. Four double-decker stations—Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, and Alapakkam—will link the Koyambedu–Butt Road line with the Vadapalani–Poonamallee stretch. Civil work along Butt Road faces delays due to narrow roads and dense development. Some structures over Kathipara flyover are being constructed at night to avoid traffic disruption, with balanced cantilever work expected to finish possibly by April 2026. Initial plans to open Koyambedu–Alandur were revised, prioritising Koyambedu–Butt Road first.

Casagrand handed over Casagrand Utopia, a kids-themed residential community in Manapakkam, Chennai. The project comprises 673 apartments.

About 100 families in Vivekananda Nagar’s Sampangi Street said homes flood even during light rain, a problem they trace to an Avadi Corporation stormwater drain built about four years ago. Residents said the drain is 1.5 feet deep, elevated above ground and carries sewage year-round; during rain, sewage and stormwater overflow. A 10-foot-deep, seven-foot-wide main chamber feeds it, but residents say the smaller drain cannot handle incoming water. They said water drains into Puzhal Lake, contaminating drinking water, and that repeated complaints brought no action.

A corporation official said officers found the stormwater drain narrower than the main drain and its elevated slope obstructed water flow. Blockages were being cleared, and water would be pumped from the street.

The report also said nearly 100 houses in Ambedkar Nagar, Veppampatti and Pallikaranai remained under knee-deep water after the northeast monsoon’s first spell. In Korattur’s North Avenue and nearby streets, hip-level flooding was drained by evening. About 150 Annai Anjugam Nagar residents were sheltered at Government Higher Secondary School, Perungalathur.