ARAKKONAM:
Arakkonam (அரக்கோணம் )is a municipality town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with a population of about 101,626 as per the census 2011. This town is located in the Vellore District about 69 kilometres (43 mi) (via rail) from the state capital of Chennai. Arakkonam is one of the hottest towns in India, where the temperature can exceed 43 °C (110 °F) for several peak days in the summer. As of 2011, the town had a population of 78,395. It is considered a part of the Chennai Metropolitan Region.
History:
The ancient name of the town was “Arunthamizhkundram” (“Aruntamilkunram”) which is believed to have been derived from theTamil words aarukonam meaning “six angles” or hexagon, based on the fact that six important places exist on the town’s six sides, namely Kanchipuram, Thakkolam, Manavur, Thiruvalangadu, Tiruttani and Sholinghur.
Arakkonam is one of the most important junctions of Indian Railways in South India, that is why the station at Arakkonam is called as Arakkonam Joint Junction. The first train to south India was from Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) to Royapuram (Chennai) via Arakkonam. Arakkonam Joint Junction[1] is one of the oldest junctions in the country connecting with major cities such asBangalore, Mumbai, Goa, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Mangalore,kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Municipality:
The Arakkonam Municipality was constituted as 3rd Grade Municipality on 01.10.1958, it was upgraded as 2nd grade municipality on 1.5.1974 and now it is a 1st grade municipality from 17.4.1984. The area of this municipality is 9.06 km2. This is also one of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies. This municipality contains 36 wards.
Urban infrastructure:
Arakkonam Junction railway station is third largest railway junction in Vellore district next to Vellore Katpadi and Jolarpet. It strategically located at the intersection of the Chennai-Bangalore line and the Guntakal-Chennai line, which is part of Mumbai-Chennai line. Except a few super-fast trains, all the trains stop at this station. The town has one of the biggest workshops for Southern Railway, known as the Engineering Workshop (EWS) and the Electric Loco Shed.[2]A frequent suburban electric train facility is also available towards Chennai. The second biggest Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown is located at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu. It is used to store all types of food grains for a long periods. Transport is also available by road to all major cities and towns.
The runway at INS Rajali, a naval air force of the Indian Navy in Arakkonam is 4,500 metres in length, making it the second longest airforce runway in South Asia. It is also Asia’s second biggest Naval Training Centre. The esteemed organisation in Arakkonam is the Indian Railways – Engineering Workshop Shops (EWS) which has many Employees serving the Indian Railways in various process related with fabrication and processing of various metal components for the railways. Most of the machines in these workshops are a century old and some of them are working.
There are other industries like MRF (Madras Rubber Factory), Ultratech Cement, Ramco Industries,, FL Smidth Etc.
Many official buildings in Arakkonam were built during the British era. There is an underpass which connects Arakkonam and Kanchipuram beneath the railway track and is one of the oldest structures in Arakkonam having manufactured by lime Mortar and Stones. Arakkonam Fire Station, built in 1925, is one of the oldest fire stations in the nation.
Major Area:
1.Stuartpet
2.Gandhi Nagar,
3.Gandhi Road,
4.Nehurji Nagar,
5.Ganesh Nagar,
6.Jothi Nagar,
7.Ashok Nagar,
8.Town Hall Streets,
9.Tamil Nadu Housing Board
10.Palanipet.
11.Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Nagar
12.ABM Church
13.Nethaji Nagar
14.Shah nagaretc
Importance Things in the town:
1. Best Connectivity through trains to most part of the country.
2. Living cost is less though we were nearby city zone.
3. Business growth will be more & more
4. Emerging business: Food, Schools, Hospitals, Real Estate, Flower market, Construction, Super markets, Electronics, Textile & apparels, Hardware’s, telecommunication etc.
5. Most part of the villages surrounding depends on this town.
6. All the sides were covered with flyovers.
7. Underground drainage system is in process.