Vandalur

Vandalur
Census town
Nickname:  Entrance of Chennai City
Vandalur Show map of Chennai Vandalur Show map of Tamil Nadu Vandalur Show map of India
Coordinates: 12°53′N 80°05′E / 12.89°N 80.08°E / 12.89; 80.08
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
Metro	Chennai
Elevation	50 m (160 ft)
Population  (2012)
• Total	26,311
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	TN-11
Civic agency	CMDA Chennai Metropolitan Area Vandalur Taluk
Website	www.tn.gov.in

Vandalur is a census town in Chennai and taluk headquarters in the Chengalpattu district lying south of the metropolitan city of Chennai, India. Vandalur serves as the southern gateway to Chennai city. It has the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, which contain some rare species of wild flora and fauna. The town is served by Vandalur railway station of the Chennai Suburban Railway network.

As per 2011 census, Vandalur had total population of 16,852. Males constitute 49.9% of the population and females 50%.^[1] Vandalur has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 72%. In Vandalur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Vandalur is a residential area in Chennai City region approximately 6 km to the south of Tambaram. It is adjacent to the neighbourhoods of Peerkankaranai, Perungalathur, Mudichur, Guduvancheri and Mannivakkam.

Vandalur forms the junction of the Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, Connecting the Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST) with Old Mamallapuram Road (OMR). The Outer Ring Road (Vandalur - Minjur) is a major transport corridor being developed along the periphery of Chennai Metropolitan Area by the CMDA. The Vandalur Flyover to be inaugurated in January 2012 will connect the east and west side of the Vandalur railway station. It will have a bowstring design similar to that of Rangarajapuram flyover.^[2] A satellite commercial corridor is likely to be developed along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) ^[3]

65-acre terminus for south-bound buses at Vandalur: The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu, when opened in 2002, was touted as the largest in Asia. Now, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has identified land for a new terminus in Vandalur, that will be more than twice the size of the CMBT, to handle south-bound long-distance buses and ease the pressure on the Koyambedu facility.^[4]

Distance Chart

Destination (From Vandalur)	Distance(km)	Time(Minutes)
Tambaram	6	20
Chengalpattu	24	45
Maraimalai Nagar	15	18
Mudichur	4	15
Velachery	23	60

The nearest train station is Vandalur Railway Station on the Chennai Suburban Railway line. The proposed Chennai monorail project envisages two lines from Vandalur - Vandalur to Puzhal and Vandalur to Velachery.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park located here also known as Vandalur Zoo. The Park was the first public zoo in India. Vandalur Zoo is originally created in 1855 near Park Town, Chennai City. Later in 1875, this zoo had expanded and moved out of the city. In 1979, the Tamil Nadu Forest department moved this zoo to Vandalur reserve forest covering an area of 1300 acres. This zoo was inaugurated in year 1985 and it's one of the largest in South Asia. There are totally 81 enclosures. More than 170 species of mammals, aviaries and reptiles are exhibited in the zoo.

Vandalur hill is part of Arignar Anna Zoological Park and public entry to the hill is restricted. The hilltop provides a good view of the OMR and Mannivakam. The Tamil Nadu Forest department has a sapling center under the foothill of Vandalur hill. The run has a total ascent of 274.99 ft and has a maximum elevation of 484.97 ft.

• Crescent School
• TS Baliah Matriculation School
• Shri Natesan Vidyasala Matriculation Hr Sec School near Mudichur
• Sri Viswa Vidyalaya Matriculation Hr Sec School
• Annai Velankanni Matriculation School
• St. John's Nursery and Primary School
• Shalom Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Government High School
• SSM Montessori School
• B. S. Abdur Rahman University (formerly Crescent Engineering College)
• Sri Ramanujar Engineering College
• Tagore Engineering College
• Sri Krishna Engineering College
• Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University
• VIT Chennai Campus
• Sri Balaji Polytechnic College
• GKM College of Engineering and Technology
• Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM)
• Chennai School of Ship Management
• Delhi Public School
• Little Kids PreSchool
• PERI Institute of Technology

This flyover will replace the level crossing near Vandalur railway station. The Rs. 46.78 crore flyover on the Vandalur-Walajabad Road was inaugurated January 27, 2012. The 1.48-km-long flyover will replace a level crossing near the Vandalur railway station.[1]

• 
  Sri Agatheeswarar Temple
• 
  Elephants having food at Vandalur Zoo
• 
  Electric Vehicle Vandalur Zoo
• 
  Tagore Engineering College
• 
  Accenture, Shriram IT Gateway on GST Road
• 
  Vandalur Railway Station

• Arignar Anna Zoological Park Chennai
• B. S. Abdur Rahman University Chennai
• Kalyan Kometel - Sarovar Hotel, Vandalur
• Gold Souk Grande Mall Chennai
• Mudichur Chennai
• Perungalathur Chennai
• Urapakkam, Chengalpattu district

1. GST Road Traffic Issues The Hindu
2. Indian Gaur safari at Vandalur zoo The Hindu
3. Roads to the future - 3 key stretches on the city's outskirts Hindu Property Plus
4. The orbital beltway - Vandalur to Minjur Outer Ring Road The Hindu
5. Monorail Phase I - Vandalur to Velachery/Puzhal The Hindu
6. News about Gold Souk Grande Mall, Vandalur India Retailing
7. Vandalur Flyover Work Is Nearing Completion
8. TN clears second phase of Outer Ring Road project