Ashok Nagar

Ashok Nagar is one of the prime residential localities in Chennai today, with a whole assortment of residential buildings available to pick from, whether for purchase or rent. Added to the mix are commercial centres - offices, shopping places, restaurants, and so on – these too range from local outlets to multi-national chains.

Everyone in Chennai knows where Ashok Nagar is, which is because more often than not, people commute through Ashok Nagar to get to the airport. The connectivity that Ashok Nagar offers is truly remarkable, and not just because it is only a one-road-drive down to the airport. Within a 5 to 7 km radius from the center of Ashok Nagar, numerous key localities can be accessible, like Vadapalini, West Mambalam, T Nagar, Nungambakkum, Guindy, and the Gemini Flyover.

Ashok Nagar’s strategic location coupled with its major roads and frequent buses connects it with many localities efficiently. Overall, it is a residential neighborhood, with lots of commercials and is massively connected.

Connectivity and transit points

Ashok Nagar is not the most strategically located locality, but it has its benefits in being connected to every major locality in Chennai. From Ashok Nagar, a simple 9 km drive down the Jawaharlal Nehru Road will take commuters to the Chennai International Airport. From here, passengers can fly out to other major cities in India and abroad. Buses are also available to the airport.

The two major railway stations in the city, Chennai Central Station and Egmore Railway Station, are also accessible through bus routes. In total, there are three routes, two of which are used to travel northwards, to places like Central, Egmore, Nungambakkam, Mount Road, and Marina Beach. These buses can be caught from one of the bus stands on 4th Avenue or Arya Gowda Road.

The third bus route starts from Ashok Nagar bus stand, and buses here travel southwards towards the airport and Tambaram. Buses here also run southeast to Velachery, OMR, and Besant Nagar. Just a few kilometers from Ashok Nagar is the Mambalam Railway Station, trains of the Southern Railways travel through here. Commuters can catch trains here going towards Egmore, or the opposite direction going to the Chennai International Airport and beyond.

Major landmarks

•          Ashok Pillar
•          ESI Hospital
•          Ashok Nagar Bus Stand
•          Udhayam Theater
•          Kasi Theater
•          Pudhur High School
•          Arcot Road and Jawaharlal Nehru Road Intersection

Factors for growth in the past

Ashok Nagar, centred by Ashok Pillar, has a substantial story behind it becoming one of the most revered residential localities in Chennai. While most residential areas rise as a response to having IT parks nearby, this locality was destined to be a residential locality right from the start, even before personal computers were around. In 1964, Ashok Nagar was established, and soon afterwards, in 1970 the Tamil Nadu Government built residential flats here for people to flood in. To further attract buyers, the government built a shopping complex, a movie theater, and a public hospital – and naturally, buyers invested here and saw their assets grow over the decades.

Residential & commercial market

Residential market trends

The residential market is split almost evenly, in favour of Ashok Nagar apartments. There are a few plots layouts up for grabs as well. Multi-storey apartment buildings make up the majority and their sales price has been steadily increasing as expected from a key locality.

In the first few months of 2014, apartment sales prices were around Rs 5,300 per sq. ft. And the prices for renting out one of these apartments were somewhere between Rs 15 to Rs 35 per sq. ft, depending on the area in the locality and how luxurious an apartment is. Renting out residential houses is cheaper, priced at Rs 15 per sq. ft to Rs 20 per sq. ft. The typical rent rates are generally on the higher side, priced anywhere from Rs 10,000-30,000.

Commercial market trends

There are some commercial pockets in Ashok Nagar, and although this locality is not a shopping zone, commercial office spaces are in demand. These office spaces can be rented out for Rs 38 per sq. ft to Rs 45 per sq. ft.

Major challenges

The once monumental Government Shopping Complex in Ashok Nagar is in ruins now, but the public is still keen on shopping here. They have voiced concerns regarding water stagnation and overflowing drainage through the shopping complex, as well a lack of public toilet facility. Some people have added that they wish to see the local wine shop shut down, as the wine shop customers resort to drinking openly disturbing the shoppers and shopkeepers.

The Peripheral Hospital, located right next to the E.S.I Hospital is a major government hospital, catering to the residents of Ashok Nagar, K.K. Nagar, Guindy, Saidapet, and many other neighboring localities. The residents have complained about a lack of facilities here. There has been a long-lasting concern about the roads unfolding during the monsoon season. The roads break and become flooded. The residents of Ashok Nagar demand a permanent solution to this problem. However, this is a problem faced across Chennai.

There have been some regular complaints about bad road conditions throughout the year, encroachment on platforms, waterlogging, mosquito menace, non-desilting of stormwater drains, and improper disposal of garbage.

Factors for Growth in the Future

The metro network that is being built by Chennai Metro Rail Limited across key localities in Chennai includes Ashok Nagar - this is the key growth factor for Ashok Nagar. Two metro lines will connect Ashok Nagar; one from Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar and the second from Ashok Nagar to St. Thomas Mount, attracting many people to come reside here.

The construction of the two metro lines are complete, and is expected to become fully operational by mid-2014.