Residents of Padur near Kelambakkam along Rajiv Gandhi Salai report that a private educational institution has encroached on lands including temple property and government poromboke (common) land over 40 years. The Sri Padavatta Amman Temple sits on disputed land within the college's compound, preventing daily pujas and the annual Aadi Thiruvizha festival. Panchayat president Thara Sudhakar said petitions have been submitted over years to retrieve approximately six acres. The tahsildar measured 3.67 acres of kulam poromboke; the panchayat planned a play area but abandoned it due to earth-filling costs and the land being within the college compound. Residents report the college's compound wall encloses an alternate route between OMR and Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road, making it inaccessible in emergencies. The compound includes a temporary fence, 30% of an open well, and a shed on poromboke land. Residents have submitted a petition to the Chengalpattu District Collector requesting land retrieval and restoration for public use including a park and play area.

Chennai recorded 9,198 residential sales in H1 2026, up 3% year-on-year, and average prices increased 5% to ₹7,555 per sq ft, according to Knight Frank India. Homes priced ₹50 lakh–₹1 crore accounted for 47% of sales. Demand is supported by Metro Phase II, the Pallavaram–Thoraipakkam Radial Road, airport connectivity, and industrial growth in Oragadam and SIPCOT Siruseri. Developers expanding across Chennai include Brigade Group, Casagrand, Urbanrise, Doshi Housing, DRA Homes, House of Hiranandani, TVS Emerald, Prestige Group, Radiance Realty, Puravankara, DAC Developers, Jones Foundations and Appaswamy Real Estates.

• Sholinganallur, Thoraipakkam, Perungudi and Karapakkam: indicative prices ₹7,000–10,000 per sq ft; rents rose 8–10%. Projects include Brigade Altius, Casagrand First City, Urbanrise Whispers of Sky, Doshi Risington and DRA iHeart.
• Navalur, Siruseri, Kelambakkam and Padur: prices ₹5,000–7,500 per sq ft, 25–40% below areas farther north on OMR. Projects include House of Hiranandani Upscale, TVS Emerald Verde Vista, Urbanrise Revolution One, Casagrand Southbrooke and Casagrand Sun City.
• Pallavaram and the GST Road–Radial Road belt: prices ₹7,000–9,000 per sq ft. Prestige Pallavaram Gardens spans about 21.8 acres and 2,000-plus homes, with possession around 2029; TVS Emerald LightHouse, Casagrand Casamia (about 22 acres, 1,300-plus homes), Casagrand Reva and Radiance Realty projects are also listed.

Floor premiums vary by locality and rise with floor level. The article flags congestion, water supply, aircraft noise, construction, longer commutes and resale liquidity as considerations.

Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) says it completed 88% of stormwater drain works, spending ₹6,475 crore over four years on 1,235 km of drains across all corporation zones. Residents report missing links, clogged canals, sewage in drains, poor maintenance and designs that fail to follow road gradients. GCC standards call for drains on roads at least 7m wide, a maximum drain size of 600×750 mm, tops 6 inches above road level, and inlet chambers and silt catch pits every 30m.

Residents in Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Sunnambu Kolathur and Thalambur highlighted recurring flooding. A 2025 study by Vyasai Thozargal and Chennai Climate Action Group found Vyasarpadi’s drainage affected by encroachments and tidal influence in Captain Cotton Canal, while fly ash deposits covering 492 standard football fields clog Ennore Creek and Kosasthalaiyar. Residents also cited three years without desilting near Tsunami Canal and sewage pollution in Alapakkam and Korattur lakes. Manifesto demands include restoring canals, tracking desilting and completing underground sewage schemes in six southern suburbs.