CHENNAI: The Tambaram and Avadi corporations, near Chennai, are set to annex 37 village panchayats, expanding their boundaries.
The Tambaram Corporation will incorporate 18 villages, including Agaramthen, Medavakkam, Kovilambakkam, Cowl Bazaar, Mudichur, Perumbakkam, Nanmangalam, Pozhichalur, Tirusulam, Ottiyambakkam, Thiruvanchery, Vengaivasal, Madurapakkam, Moovarasampattu, and Sithalapakkam.
Established in 2021, Tambaram Corporation will grow from 84.7 sq km to 172.34 sq km, nearly one-fourth the size of Greater Chennai Corporation. Its population will increase from 7,23,017 to 10,08,473 with the merger.
Deputy mayor G Kamaraj stated that the govt approved the Chengalpet district administration’s proposal to include the panchayats that were initially excluded during the corporation’s formation due to the 2019 rural local body elections.
For the Avadi Corporation, three municipalities—Tiruverkadu, Poonamallee, and Tirunindravur—will merge along with 19 village panchayats: Vanagaram, Ayapakkam, Nemilichery, Adayalampattu, Nadukuthagai, Kattupakkam, Senneerkuppam, Varadharajapuram, Nazarethpet, Agaram Mel, Panaveetu Thottam, Parivakkam, Kannapalayam, Sorancheri, Morai, Vellanur, Palavedu, and Meppur.
This merger will expand Avadi Corporation from 65 sq km to 188 sq km, increasing its population from 3,45,996 to 6,95,212.
Municipal administration and water supply department secretary D Karthikeyan mentioned that the village panchayat presidents have tenure until the end of 2024, after which the panchayats will be merged into the Tambaram and Avadi Corporations. The upgrade is expected by December 2024 or January 2025.