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Perungalathur(Tamil: பெருங்களத்தூர்) is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is around 3 km from Tambaram. And it is at an equal distance from Chennai City and the Chengelpet Town.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Perungalathur had a population of 19,343 (it is close to 50,000 as of Nov 2006). Males constitute 41% of the population and females 59%. Perungalathur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Perungalathur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Location

Perungalathur is located on NH-45 highway between Tambaram and Vandalur. Perungalathur & Peerkankaranai are twin towns which share and complement much of their resources and infrastructures alike. It is well connected by rail and road links. Located close to Tambaram, all south bound trains can be boarded from Tambaram. Long distance bus & Indian Railways reservation counters is available in Tambaram. Chennai international & domestic airports is around 12 km from Perungalathur.

The Chennai bypass road NH-4 forks-off from NH-45 after Perungalathur and is north bound towards Maduravayil. An underpass to access NH-4 from Tambaram is now open for traffic on NH-45 between Irumbuliyur and Peerkankaranai.

The proximity of Tambaram railway junction and Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur has given Perungalathur good connectivity with places like Chennai, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram. Industrial estates like Guindy, Maraimalai Nagar, Paddapai, Oragadam and Sriperumbudur are easily accessible via road. Residents of adjoining areas like Peerkankaranai, Sadanandhapuram, Old Perungalathur and RMK Nagar avail transport facilities from Perungalathur. Perungalathur is the hub for most of tourist bus operators and many have offices opposite to first railway gate.

Transportation

The Railway station and Bus stop are located side-by-side giving commuters an option to take either mode of transport based on availability and urgency. Auto-rickshaws and Share-autos can be hired on NH-45 and also from either side of first & second railway gate for accessing interior areas. The bus-stop for Peerkankaranai on NH-45 is called Erikarai stopping. It is easier to access Srinivasa Nagar, Velu Nagar, KK Nagar & The Pentecostal Mission from this stopping.

Traffic block occurs on NH-45 during morning and evening rush hour at first and second railway gates because of the relative closness of the railway crossings to NH-45 along with high volume of pedestrian and two wheeler traffic. Traffic police are deployed regularly, however an overhead bridge or a subway is needed to ease congestion on NH45. Proposal is underway to close one of these gates to extend the railyway platform and enable usage of 12 CAR EMU trains in Tambaram - Chengalpattu section.

Perungulathur is very close to Tambaram.

Neighbourhoods

• Peerkankaranai
• Srinivasa Nagar
• RMK Nagar
• Kamaraja Nagar
• Old Perungalathur
• NGO Colony
• KK Nagar
• Devanesa Nagar
• Velu Nagar
• The Pentecostal Mission
• Sadananthapuram
• Alapakkam
• Lakshmipuram

Place of Worship

• The Pentecostal Mission
• Soorathamman Temple
• Lord of Lords AG Church
• Vedanta Desika Srinivasa Temple
• Lakshmi Narayanan Temple, N.G.O Colony
• Pancha Mookam Anjaneyar Temple
• Kamatchi Amman Temple
• Vara-Shakthi Vinayagar Temple
• Aadhi Kaaraneeshwarar Temple
• Karumaari Amman Temple
• The CSI Church

• Infant Jesus Shrine
• Ayyapan Temple
• Muthu Mariamman Temple
• Nagathamman Temple

Educational Institutions

Perungalathur and Peerkankaranai have more than 10 schools from primary to higher secondary level. . Well known of them are

• Government Higher Secondary School, Peerkankaranai
• Vivekananda Vidyalaya(nursary school), Peerkankaranai
• Kalaimagal Kalasalai, Kamaraj Nagar
• St. Annes Matriculation School, Srinivasa Nagar
• St. John Matriculation School, Perungalathur
• Ebenezer Matriculation School, Perungalathur
• Joshua Matriculation School, Perungalathur
• GKM College of Engineering, Alapakkam

Tuition Centres

• Karthick Institute

This Institute is more than 20 years old and provides excellent coaching for SSLC , HSC and Higher graduation programs.

• IAPS (Institute of Academic and Professional Studies)

This institute provides good coaching for SSLC(State Board, Matriculation and CBSE), HSC, Degree and Diplomas.

Living in Perungalathur

Life in Perungalathur is peaceful away from pollution and the hassles of city. The place is green with trees of Plantain, Coconut Palm, Mango and Neem common in most households. The Vandalur hill is on the south eastern side and provides a picturesque view for NH-45 motorists and residents alike. Tamilnadu Forest department has a sapling center under the foothill. Bamboo and Eucalyptus forests can be seen on either side of the road to Sadanandhapuram.

The town has two lakes, one in Peerkankaranai, adjacent to NH-45 and another Perungalathur lake behind the Vedanta Desika Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Much of Peerkankaranai Lake was filled during the widening of NH-45 highway and the remaining area is shrinking due to dumping of solid wastes and encroachments. Perungalathur Lake gives the name to this town meaning “A Place with Big Lake” (Perum – Kulam – Urr) . These two lakes keep the water table up resulting is sufficient amount of water for its residents throughout the year. Much of the water from open wells and borewells is not suitable for drinking due to its relative hardness. Piped drinking water supply is available from town panchayat on street taps and piped connection to houses are also provided at a nominal fee. Palar water lines are also available in few places in Perungalathur.

Peerkankaranai has a Government Higher Secondary School and a few private schools like St.Annes, John's & Ebenezer Matriculation School. Renowned schools and colleges are also situated in Tambaram. Madras Christian College, Crescent Engineering College, GKM Engineering College and SRM Deemed University are easily accessible from Perungalathur and students and staff from these colleges live and commute from here.

Indian overseas Bank & Syndicate Bank have branches in Peerkankaranai with safe deposit locker facilities. Syndicate, AXIS and HDFC banks have ATM's here while IOB, the first bank to start operations in perungalathur is yet to open an ATM. AXIS Bank has got an ATM on Srinivasa Raghavan road close to first railway gate and HDFC bank has got an ATM close to the second railway gate. TNEB office is located on the road to Sadanandhapuram. BSNL Chennai Telephones has commissioned a new Remote Switching Unit (RSU) exchange at Perungalathur. BSNL telephone exchange is located on Sanjay Gandhi Street close to Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Peerkankaranai police station is adjacent to the Bus stop on NH-45. The Post Office at Srinivasa Nagar serves for Peerkankarani & Perungalathur areas. Apollo Pharmacy has a "Any Time Medicine" service outlet on Kalaingar Nedunchalai.

Perungalathur has a Primary Health Center (PHC) & Additional Health Center and a couple of private nursing homes and clinics. As with many places in Chennai mosquitos are a perennial problem. Perungalathur and Peerkankaranai each has a public library and few small public parks are scattered all over the town. Two marriage halls and a community centre is located in the middle of the town. Perungalathur cannot boast of any decent restaurant or cinema theatre, but many road side eateries and small restaurants do brisk business. The town doesn’t have a petrol pump, the closest being in Vandalur.

The inner roads are not wide, vehicular traffic is mostly confined to Kalaingar and Kamraj Nedunchalai and on access roads to railway station and bus stop. Most of the roads have black tops and some are concreted.

Till the late 1980’s Standard Motors (SMPL)had their works in Perungalathur and employed a huge workforce in manufacturing of Van, tempos & India first luxury car, The Rover. Employees of Standard Motor made Perungalathur their home and a vibrant village developed and thrived. Indian Overseas Bank was established during that period for disbursement of salary to SMPL employees. Even after the closure of the unit this place survived because of its proximity to Chennai and Chengalpattu.

Land prices have sky-rocketed in the last few years because of the above reasons.

Shriram IT Gateway

Shriram Properties Limited is developing a 4.8 million sf mixed use development project in the erstwhile standard motor property. Out of the 4,800,000 sq ft (450,000 m), 3,600,000 sq ft (330,000 m) will be under SEZ called 'The Gateway' in Perungalathur. The Gateway is spread over an area of 57.94 acres (234,500 m) and will comprise an IT SEZ, retail mall, multiplex & serviced apartments. Companies that have leased space in the Gateway,

• Accenture - has leased up 4.60 lakh sq. ft.
• Satyam - has leased up 4 lakh sq. ft.
• Intimate Softs- at no 1/25n n.g.o colony 2nd st

Perungalathur Gallery

• Vandalur Hill
• Modern Sapling Centre
• Perungalathur Lake
• Govt.Hr.Sec.School

Reserve Forest Gallery (Perungalathur - Vandalur)

• Mist & Morning Walk
• View South-Eastern side of Vandalur Hill
• Hill - Closeup
• Kamaraj Nagar as seen from Hill top

References

1. Template:GR
2. "Train Timings from / to Perungalathur". Southern Railways.
3. "CSI Church, Perungalathur". Exousia.
4. "Department of School Education,Tamil Nadu Schools". Government of Tamil Nadu.
5. "More inscriptions from the Tambaram area". Madras Christian College Magazine, Vol. 44, 1975.
6. "Shriram-The Gateway ". SUN Apollo Investments.