Urapakkam

 

Urapakkam, literally meaning “closer to the city”, is a fast growing suburb, situated in the southern part of Chennai. The locality sits along the busy National Highway 45 (NH-45), nestling between Chengalpattu and Tambaram. Demarcated by the NH-45 and the railway lines that run through it, Urapakkam is divided into Urapakkam West and Urapakkam East.

 

Given its proximity to Grand South Trunk Road (GST), Urapakkam has become the gateway of south Chennai, especially after the southern limits of Chennai Metropolitan area expanded till Vandalur.

 

Urapakkam is enveloped by other suburbs such as Vandalur and Guduvancheri. It shares proximity with other small localities like Madambakkam, Adhanur, Karanai-Puducheri, and Lyencheri. Apart from this, Urapakkam is also very close to the rapidly developing corridors of SP Koil-Oragadam-Sriperumbudur Road, the Outer Ring Road connecting Vandalur to Minjur, and Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road.

 

Urapakkam enjoys proximity to a cornucopia of greenery and water bodies like Urapakkam Lake, Erikarai lake, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Lake, and Mannivakkam Agricultural Lands. This abundance of serene and scenic land makes it an ideal place to stay in.

 

In spite of being situated far away from the developed northern part of Chennai, Urapakkam has a fairly developed social, economical, and commercial infrastructure. It is supported by a fully functional electricity board, a post office, petrol bunks, parks, and schools. The area is also a storehouse of several different schools, colleges, and hospitals, and commercial establishments.

 

Key Projects in Urapakkam : 

GCC Daffodils

S.I.S Marakesh

Urban Tree Superb

MHC Park Avenue

Matrix Luxury Apartments

Rajam Aadhithyam

 

Connectivity and Transit Points

 

Urapakkam is located strategically along the NH-45 or Grand South Trunk Road (GST), and enjoys robust connectivity with major areas like Tambaram, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), Outer Ring Road (ORR), Oragadam, Guduvancheri, Vandalur, and Sriperumbudur.

 

Urapakkam also revels in its Suburban Railway network connectivity, with trains connecting Urapakkam Railway Station to localities like Tambaram, Chennai Fort, Chengalpattu, Chennai Egmore, Nungambakkam, Mambalam, Meenambakkam, Chromepet, and others falling under the south-west railway line.

 

The locality also enjoys smooth bus transport, with countless buses plying through the Urapakkam Teakadai bus stop and Urapakkam Govt. School bus stop. Few of the MTC bus routes operating via this locality are Broadway-Guduvancheri, C.M.B.T.- Chengelpet, High Court-S. P. Koil, T. Nagar-Guduvancheri, and Tambaram-Madambakkam.

 

Major Landmarks

 

●       Urapakkam Railway Station

●       State Bank of India

●       Urapakkam Post Office

●       Urapakkam EB Office

●       Raj VIP Mahal kalyana Mandapam

●       Ellora Homes

●       Railway Level Crossing

●       General Tyres Corporation Limited

●       Gankai Amman Temple

●       Immanuel Apostolic Assembly

 

Factors for Growth in the Past

 

Several road improvement projects undertaken across the NH-45 or GST improved the connectivity to and from Urapakkam, and led to a multitude of residential and commercial projects to be launched here. Once the northern region of the city saw its fair share of development, the growing demand for realty in Chennai also indirectly prompted growth in suburbs like Urapakkam.

 

Chennai Suburban Railway Network also added to Urapakkam’s appeal. Since improved connectivity enhances a locality’s appeal, this suburban railway line roped in many investors to Urapakkam. With these developments, other forms of economic infrastructure like post offices, electricity boards, and petrol bunks were quickly set up in this region.

 

Residential and Commercial Market

 

Residential Market Trends

 

Given the hi-tech infrastructure and the proximity to factories and offices in and around the area, the dominant property type in Urapakkam is apartments. More than half the residential properties in Urapakkamare are multi-storey or high-rise apartments. But, residential plots and independent houses can also be found in fair numbers.

 

The price for apartments has been consistent since 2013, after a slight increase in 2012. The average price for apartments is Rs 3,500 per sq. ft. Residential plot prices in Urapakkam have seen several ups and downs in the past years, and is currently priced at an average of Rs 2,100 per sq. ft. The price for independent houses on the other hand are a bit higher, priced at an average of Rs 4,300 per sq. ft.

 

The rent for apartments in Urapakkam as well as independent houses is very reasonable. The average rent rate for apartments ranges between Rs 8 - 12 per sq. ft., and for independent houses it is Rs 8 per sq. ft.

 

Commercial Market Trends

 

The price for commercial property in Urapakkam is higher than that of the residential properties. The average price for commercial plots in Urapakkam is Rs 9,800 per sq. ft., and a mid-to-large sized commercial plot costs approximately Rs 4 crores.

 

Major Challenges

 

The area suffers from immoderate traffic congestion, concentrated especially in areas where construction work is pending. The bridge that connects GST Road and Madambakkam is still pending completion, causing traffic jams in and around Urapakkam.

 

Factors for Growth in the Future

 

The mofussil bus terminus in Vandalur, as proposed by the State government of Tamil Nadu, is likely to work as a catalyst for Urapakkam’s future growth.

 

The proposition to set up a number of malls like Gold Souk Grande Mall, Shriram Mall, and Estancia Mall would change the face of Urapakkam, and spark the potential that lies in the area’s commercial sector.

 

Ongoing and upcoming residential projects like Milano Orchard, Royal Bhoomi Raasi, MM Thulir, Marutham Classic, Royal Woods, Kriticons Green Lakes, Natwest Aura, Featherlite Vaikuntam, SIS Marakesh, and Good Life Tulip will beef up the residential sector in Urapakkam, and would help create realty demands in the area.