Arakkonam

Arakkonam (Tamil: [aɾakkoːɳam]), previously Arkonam is one of the most important railway towns in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu connecting major cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Goa, Vijayawada, Tirupathi, Coimbatore, Kochi and thiruvananthapuram. With a population of around 2 lakhs as per the 2018 census, it is well known for the Asia's 2nd largest runway INS RAJALI and NDRF present in Takkolam, as well as the CISF which comes under Arakkonam. Arakkonam is under the newly created Ranipet district, about 54 kilometres (34 mi) from Ranipet headquarters and about 69 kilometres (43 mi) from the state capital of Chennai.

Arakkonam
Railway Town
Arakkonam Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 13°04′40″N 79°40′00″E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Ranipet district
Government
• Type	First Grade Municipality
• Body	Arakkonam Municipality
Area
• Total	9.06 km^2 (3.50 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	around 2 lakhs
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	631001 to 631006
Vehicle registration	TN-73Z
Website	www.arakkonam.info

This is a mini-city highlighted with the best schools in the district. It is in the suburban area 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 summer. Arakkonam has derived from the word "Arunthamizhkundram" also later called as "Aarukonam" meaning 'hexagon' which connects six important places around.

History

The ancient name of the town was "Arumthamizh kundram" ("Arumtamil kunram") which is believed to have been derived from the Tamil words aaru konam 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, Ponnai and Sholinghur.

Arakkonam Junction[1] is one of the oldest junctions in the country connecting with major cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Goa, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Mangalore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

Municipality

The Arakkonam Municipality was constituted as a 3rd Grade Municipality on 01.10.1958 and upgraded to a 2nd Grade Municipality on 1.5.1974 and has been a 1st Grade Municipality from 17.4.1984. The area of the municipality is 9.06 km² (3.50 sq mi). Arakkonam is a part of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies of the same name. This municipality contains 36 wards.

Urban infrastructure

Arakkonam Junction railway station is the largest railway junction in Ranipet district. It strategically located at the intersection of the Chennai-Bangalore line and the Guntakal-Chennai line, which is part of Mumbai-Chennai line. The town has one of the biggest workshop for Southern Railway, known as the Engineering Workshop (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.. It also has am electric locomotive shed, Electric Loco Shed (ELS).[2]. WAG5, WAP4 locomotives are maintained here. 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 air force runway in the Indian Subcontinent. It is also Asia's second-biggest Naval Training Centre.

Other industries include MRF Tyres, Ramco Industries and Ultratech Cement.

Many official buildings in Arakkonam were built during the British era. An underpass beneath the railway connects Arakkonam and Kanchipuram and is one of the city's oldest structures. It was built with lime mortar and stones.

Demographics

Religious census
Religion			Percent(%)
Hindu			81.22%
Muslim			9.83%
Christian			7.95%
Sikh			0.04%
Buddhist			0.03%
Jain			0.35%
Other			0.58%
No religion			0.01%

According to 2011 census, Arakonam had a population of 78,395 with a sex-ratio of 1,020 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[3] A total of 7,727 were under the age of six, constituting 3,995 males and 3,732 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 27.1% and 1.11% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 81.81%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[3] The town had a total of 19507 households. There were a total of 26,029 workers, comprising 80 cultivators, 206 main agricultural labourers, 674 in house hold industries, 21,857 other workers, 3,212 marginal workers, 42 marginal cultivators, 33 marginal agricultural labourers, 156 marginal workers in household industries and 2,981 other marginal workers.[4] As per the religious census of 2011, Arakonam had 81.22% Hindus, 9.83% Muslims, 7.95% Christians, 0.04% Sikhs, 0.03% Buddhists, 0.35% Jains, 0.58% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.[5]

Politics

Arakkonam (State Assembly Constituency) is part of the Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).[6] The AIDMK candidate Mr. Ravi, Advocate won the Arakkonam assembly constituency in the 2016 elections. In the parliamentary elections held in 2009, the DMK candidate Shri S. Jagathrakshakan was elected MP from this constituency. In the 2014 lok sabha election, L. Hari Krishnan of AIADMK wrested the seat from the DMK with a margin of over 2,40,000 votes. He polled 493534 votes while the DMK candidate N.R. Elango polled just 252768 votes. Mr. S. Kannadasan of AIADMK won the post of municipality chairman in the 2014 by-election.[7] In the 2019 General elections, Dr. S. Jakathrakshagan from Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won against AIADMK Front (from PMK) candidate A.K. Moorthy.

References

1. AJJ
2. http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,372,456 ELS
3. "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
4. "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Arakonam". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
5. "Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
6. "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
7. AIADMK bags Arakkonam municipal chairman post - TAMIL NADU - The Hindu