Sports infrastructure development in Perambur constituency announced with tenders for two facilities at combined cost of ₹62.82 lakh.

Mayor Krishnamurthy Nagar facility (₹41.98 lakh):

• Multi-purpose sports facility
• Four-step gallery with seating for around 2,000 people
• Stage with lighting and sound equipment
• Existing football ground retained
• New volleyball court to be built

Dr Ambedkar Government Arts College facility (₹20.84 lakh):

• Grounds for kabaddi, basketball and cricket
• Sports equipment provision
• Work done with public works department as land belongs to them

Bids to be finalised on September 18, after which work will begin. Projects part of larger ₹1,013 crore plan announced for Perambur in July, which included several youth and sports infrastructure projects. Other development work in pipeline includes facilities for gig workers and infrastructure improvements.

Federation of North Chennai Residents' Welfare Associations unveiled a 'People's Master Plan for Human Resources, Living and Development' for Perambur constituency at Raj Thirumana Mahal in Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar.

Key demands:

• Permanent closure of 50-tonne waste incinerator at Kodungaiyur; abandon proposed 2,100-tonne incinerator
• Expedite biomining of Kodungaiyur dumpyard
• Revival of 168 closed micro composting centres and 88 material recovery facilities
• Transform 352-acre Kodungaiyur dumpyard after reclamation into growth hub with eco-park, knowledge library and IT innovation park
• Metro feasibility study for new route: Mint/Washermenpet to Red Hills via Basin Bridge, Vyasarpadi, Sathyamurthy Nagar, M.K.P. Nagar, Erukkancheri, Moolakadai, Madhavaram
• Flyovers and road-widening at Basin Bridge, Moolakadai, Madhavaram High Road
• Large-scale desilting of stormwater drains; restoration of Kodungaiyur, Captain Cotton and Buckingham canals
• Rs 7.16-crore flood-prevention works for raising ground bridges at North Avenue, South Avenue, Cauvery Road in Muthamizh Nagar
• Address waterlogging in Thendral Nagar
• House-site pattas for families in Bhaktavatsalam Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Indira Nagar
• Release withheld housing allotments for 123 families in Udhayasuriyan Nagar
• Primary health centre or urban health centre in every ward
• Underground electricity cables; monthly meter readings
• Withdrawal of excessive property taxes from reassessment
• Upgrade Bhaktavatsalam Nagar football ground; acquire five acres in Lakshmi Amman Nagar for green park

Knight Frank India report shows Chennai's residential market steady in H1 2026: housing sales rose 3% to 9,198 units, developers launched 9,588 units, average price across city rose 5% to ₹7,555/sqft.

Perambur recorded sharpest rise with prices climbing 35% to ₹10,563-₹11,158/sqft, driven by metro connectivity and infrastructure improvements. Perumbakkam followed with 20% increase aided by proximity to OMR IT corridor and upcoming metro phase-2. Mogappair registered 13% rise supported by established social infrastructure.

Other developing areas: Sembium near Perambur, Madambakkam, Medvakkam, Selaiyur, Nolambur, Valasaravakkam; mostly gated communities coming up. Data centres, IT companies and manufacturing industries moving to fringes, especially west; prices start at ₹1.5 crore.

Home price segments: ₹50 lakh-₹1 crore accounted for 47% of sales (largest segment); ₹1-₹2 crore share rose from 23% to 27%; ₹2-₹5 crore segment increased from 8% to 12%. Affordable housing (below ₹50 lakh) dropped from 22% to 12% of sales.

Railway Board approved construction of fifth and sixth railway lines between Perambur and Ambattur in Chennai-Arakkonam section. The lines span 6.4 km with budget allocation of Rs 182 crore. Current section has two fast lines and two slow lines for express and suburban trains. New lines expected to ease congestion at Chennai Central as around 75% of train operations from Chennai Central are expected to shift to proposed Perambur Coaching Terminal. No land acquisition required; tenders to be floated shortly. Current line capacity utilisation at 105.2% (without maintenance blocks), projected to reach 114.4% by 2028-29. Railway estimates financial rate of return of 17.45% and Economic Internal Rate of Return of 34.43%. Project expected to handle increased traffic load of 7.03 million tonnes per annum.

Southern Railway has proposed a new greenfield terminal at Perambur, 7 km from Chennai Central, to ease congestion at the main station. The proposal was recently approved by general manager RN Singh and has received in-principle approval from the railway board, though the Detailed Project Report has not been finalised.

Intended train shifts: 35-40% of trains from Chennai Central, including Shatabdi and Vande Bharat services bound for Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru, will be relocated to the new terminal.

Operational concerns raised:

• Shifting express trains to Perambur would require suburban trains to halt between Perambur and Villivakkam to access the fast line
• Railway would need to interchange slow and fast lines, requiring relocation of amenities including toilets, eateries, water plants and offices at en-route stations
• Restoration of suburban operations could take 15-20 years
• 2016 Commissioner of Railway Safety report recommended avoiding frequent fast/slow line shifts to reduce accident risks after a Pattabiram collision
• MTC buses may struggle to access the terminal due to heavy traffic on Konnur High Road

Alternative proposal: Rail Users Consultative Committee member suggested developing the terminal near Tiruvallur, which is connected to the suburban network with available land.

This follows the stalled Tambaram terminal project, ongoing for seven years without completion.