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Urban dweller's paradise
THERE CAN be no better and a typical example of urbanization than the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar -- popularly known as K.K. Nagar - in our very own Temple city. Today it has become the most preferred residential area by virtue of its image as a "complete colony". A neat and an attractive layout, strong and reliable infrastructure, and with some of the best facilities available, K.K. Nagar, remains the envy of all other neighbouring colonies even after three decades of its existence. It holds the distinction of being the city's "first well-planned housing locality".
Surely the residents living in the crisscrossing cramped and narrow lanes around the imposing towers of Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple would have never imagined that a composite residential area could come up in the northern corner of the city with all ideal features in tow. Wide roads, green pockets, breathing space, garbage free environs are and will perhaps remain a distant dream for residents of so many other colonies in any direction.
K.K.Nagar is many steps ahead as a self-sufficient locality, thanks to the efforts of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board which made the plan possible. The big bungalows, multi-storeyed buildings and the metal roads give it a true urban get-up in the "big village" that Madurai is called to be. Seeing it as it is today, the younger generation would find it hard to believe that just thirty years ago lush green paddy fields swayed in place of the tar roads and concrete buildings.
A totally uninhabited place, people apparently feared to cross the area after sunset as it was a vast expanse of agricultural land and wild bushes. Once the staff of the District Court left for their homes after duty, an eerie darkness fell. Initially, people were hesitatnt to buy the 700-odd plots available.
The former city Mayor, M. Patturajan, recalls how the TNHB officials had to plead with some influential and popular men of those days to buy land. Sale of plots began with a handful of advocates and businessmen coming forward to construct houses. Ever since, residents influx and developmental activities have increased by leaps and bounds. The 480 High Income Group and Low Income Group flats, promoted by the TNHB, also came up simultaneously lending a full-fledged housing colony status to K.K. Nagar.
Those who could not make it to K.K.Nagar for whatever reasons, still nurse a grudge that the area is overtly "pampered" by the Corporation ever-since the local body brought it under its jurisdiction in 1973. Broad roads, underground drainage facility, availability of copious ground water, proper maintenance, all collectively account for the place's attraction. Space for police station, schools, hospital, children's playground, commercial complex, community halls were all thoughtfully earmarked. The vigorous construction prompted development of the adjacent Managiri area and the rising popularity of K.K. Nagar also brought the adjoining areas to be called under the same name.The present day K.K.Nagar has almost doubled in size of its original with its boundary on the South touching the Sivaganga road.
The residents' profile and mix is another high of the area. From Government servants to businessmen, academicians to a wide array of professionals have not only made K.K.Nagar their home but have also been enterprising enough and contributed their might to improve the area further. The eye-catching greenery of the area is a pointer to their efforts.
The 80 feet road, that runs across the Nagar, serves as the commercial corridor with the presence of all kinds of establishment that you can probably think of - tea kiosks, hardware stores, pharmacy shops, internet cafes, ice cream parlours, boutiques and beauty parlours, reputed bakeries and restaurants, playschools and special coaching centers.
With the area acquiring a "VIP" status, real estate value too has shot up manifold. "The maximum cost of a plot was only Rs.5,000 in the initial years. The land value kept appreciating and each cent now costs a whopping Rs. 3.5 lakhs," says the Assistant Registrar of Madurai Kamaraj University, B. Krishnamurthy, a resident.
Notwithstanding the huge compound walls that separate the posh bungalows, the residents have developed a bondage among themselves. They have formed themselves into an association which seriously and regularly takes up civic issues with officials. One commendable task which the residents took upon themselves was to develop the embankment of the Vandiyur Lake and raise a park within. As many would vouch and know that the Walkers' Club by the lakeside is now a sought-after zone.
But perhaps not many know that K.K.Nagar is also home to one of the oldest women's organisations in the city -- the Kalaivani Madar Sangam. The 28-year-old association regularly conducts different kinds of competitions for all age groups to be in touch with the fraternity. It renders service to the poor in the locality. The association made the solid waste management a success story here. The idea was first implemented in K.K.Nagar before being taken to other parts of the city, says C. Jegatha, the association's former secretary. It also floated a new union for their wards.
The residents demonstrated a high sense of responsibility by installing rainwater harvesting structures when the Corporation raised alarms for depleting groundwater level. In this respect, the K.K.Nagar residents have inarguably been the trend-setters.
From hep salons to rustic vegetable market, K.K.Nagar has it all. If your visiting card flashes K.K. Nagar as your residential address, you can sense the "wow factor" in the receiver. One should not forget that people like you and me only have made it possible, so likeable.
S.SUNDAR
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