Tambaram is a medieval town referred to as Taamapuram in an inscription of the 13th century. The word was inscribed on the walls around the sanctum sanctorum at Marundeeswarar temple in Tirukachur village, near Chengalpattu.[7]
The earliest mention of Tambaram dates back to the 13th century when the word 'Taamapuram' was inscribed on the walls around the sanctum sanctorum at Marundeeswarar temple in Tirukachur village, near Chengalpattu.[7]
Old Stone Age
The oldest locality in the city is Pallavapuram which is considered one of the oldest inhabited places in South Asia.[8] Pallavapuram is most commonly known today as Pallavaram.[9]
The oldest locality in the city, Pallavapuram, existed during the reign of Pallava king Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE). The Pallavas have left titles in early Pallava script at the cave temple in Pallavaram neighbourhood, which dates back to 600 CE. The remains of a cave shrine constructed by the Pallava ruler have been found at Asthana-E-Moula Ali Dargah.[12]
During the reign of Later Cholas, from ninth to twelfth century CE, the region was called Churathur Nadu. Churathur Nadu was named after Thiruchuram, the present-day Trisulam. The Churathur Nadu extended from Tambaram in the south to Adambakkam and Alandur in the north. The region included the areas of Pammal, Pallavaram, and Thiruneermalai.[13][14]
Colonial Period
During the Carnatic wars in the late 17th century, the city was an entrenchment camp for the British East India Company. During the 17th century, Pallavaram neighborhood of the city remained dependent upon the Portuguese colony of San Thome. Later, the British established a cantonment at Pallavaram, supplementary to the one at St. Thomas Mount.
A wireless station was established in the early years of the 20th century. The Madras Aerodrome was opened at Pallavaram in 1929.
Post-Independence
In the 1951 census, Tambaram was classified as a Town Panchayat for the first time.[15] In 1964, Tambaram Town Panchayat was incorporated as a Grade III Municipality by annexing the Village Panchayats of Pulikoradu, Kadapperi, Tambaram, Irumbliyur, and Selaiyur.[16][17]
Due to rapid development and growth of the town commercially and residentially, the Municipality was classified as a 'Selection Grade Municipality'.[16] The extent of the municipality was 20.72 km2 (8.00 sq mi). The revenue villages under this municipality are Pulikoradu, Kadapperi, Tambaram, Irumbliyur, and Selaiyur. The number of households is 26,333, the number of notified slums is 17 and the number of unnotified slums is 7.[18] The Tambaram range comprises forest lands in Nanmangalam, Madurapakkam, Tambaram, Pulikoradu, Kumili, Vandalur, Onnamancherry, Erumaiyur, Vattampakkam and Vadakupattu.[19]
In 2009, Tambaram taluk was trifurcated into Tambaram, Sholinganallur and Alandur taluks. Clubbing all the three taluks, a new revenue division with Tambaram as headquarters was formed.[20]
Incorporation as a city
The increasing population and rapid urbanisation increased the need for town planning, improved administration structure and human resource planning. These demands drove the creation of Tambaram City Municipal Corporation.[21][22] The announcement to establish the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation was made by Minister for Municipal Administration K. N. Nehru in the state Assembly, on August 24, 2021[23] by merging five municipalities, five town panchayats and fifteen village panchayats.[24][25]
Following a supreme court ruling to conduct rural local body elections by October 2021, the village panchayats elections for Pozhichalur, Cowl Bazaar, Tirusulam, Moovarasampattu, Kovilambakkam, Nanmangalam, Medavakkam, Vengaivasal, Perumbakkam, Sithalapakkam, Ottiyambakkam, Madurambakkam, Agaramthen, Thiruvancheri, Mudichur of the St.Thomas Mount panchayat union were held. As a result, the 15 village panchayats were excluded from the Government order issued by the State Government of Tamil Nadu on September 11, 2021.[26]
The five municipalities—Anakaputhur, Pallavaram, Pammal, Sembakkam and Tambaram, and five town panchayats—Chitlapakkam, Madambakkam, Perungaluthur, Peerkangaranai and Tiruneermalai, were incorporated as Tambaram City, with Tambaram City Municipal Corporation as governing body.[27] After the tenure of existing village panchayats ends in 2024, the proposed village panchayats may get annexed into corporation limits, and may accordingly be converted into urban wards.[28]
The Mayor, who is indirectly elected by the councillors, is the head of the municipal corporation, but the role is largely ceremonial as executive powers are vested in the Corporation Commissioner. The office of the Mayor combines a functional role of chairing the Corporation meeting as well as a ceremonial role associated with being the First Citizen of the city. Deputy Mayor is appointed by the Mayor for a five-year term.[29][30]
The legislative branch of Tambaram City Municipal Corporation consists of a council of elected councillors from each ward.The Legislative body is presided over by the Mayor.[29][30]
Administrative Zones of Tambaram City Municipal Corporation
Zones
When Tambaram City Municipal Corporation was established, it consisted of 70 wards under 5 zones.[37]
Zone
Zone Name
Total Wards
Ward No
Revenue villages
1
Pammal
14
1
Anakaputhur
2
Anakaputhur
3
Anakaputhur
4
Anakaputhur
5
Anakaputhur and Pammal
6
Pammal
7
Pammal
8
Pammal
10
Pammal
11
Pammal
12
Pammal
29
Thiruneermalai
30
Thiruneermalai
31
Thiruneermalai
2
Pallavaram
14
9
Issa Pallavaram
13
Issa Pallavaram and Pallavaram
14
Pallavaram
15
Pallavaram
16
Pallavaram
17
Pallavaram
18
Keelkattalai
19
Keelkattalai
20
Keelkattalai
21
Nemilicheri and Pallavaram
24
Pallavaram
26
Pallavaram
27
Pallavaram
28
Pallavaram
3
Sembakkam
14
22
Hasthinapuram, Nemilicheri and Pallavaram
23
Hasthinapuram, Nemilicheri and Pallavaram
25
Hasthinapuram, Nemilicheri and Pallavaram
34
Chitlapakkam
35
Hasthinapuram and Pallavaram
36
Hasthinapuram
37
Hasthinapuram
38
Hasthinapuram
39
Sembakkam
40
Gowrivakkam and Sembakkam
41
Gowrivakkam and Rajakilpakkam
42
Rajakilpakkam and Sembakkam
43
Chitlapakkam
44
Chitlapakkam
4
Perungalathur
15
32
Kadapperi, Pulikoradu and Tambaram
33
Chitlapakkam and Kadapperi
49
Tambaram
50
Kadapperi and Tambaram
51
Pulikoradu and Tambaram
52
Pulikoradu and Tambaram
53
Irumbuliyur and Tambaram
54
Tambaram
55
Perungalathur
56
Perungalathur
57
Perungalathur
58
Perungalathur
59
Peerkankaranai
60
Irumbuliyur and Tambaram
61
Peerkankaranai
5
East Tambaram
13
45
Selaiyur
46
Selaiyur
47
Selaiyur
48
Selaiyur and Tambaram
62
Irumbuliyur
63
Irumbuliyur and Selaiyur
64
Selaiyur
65
Selaiyur
66
Rajakilpakkam
67
Madambakkam
68
Madambakkam and Selaiyur
69
Madambakkam
70
Madambakkam
Area Sabha
Tambaram Corporation has 70 wards and each ward is divided into nine Area Sabhas with one member heading it. Totally, the Corporation has 630 Area Sabhas. Area Sabhas will be conducted once in three months. At least 200 residents from the ward are required to participate for conducting Area Sabha.[38]
In September 2021, the government revealed its plans of reforming the Greater Chennai City Police and setting up two new commissionerates in Tambaram and Avadi. Subsequently, Director General of Police (DGP) M. Ravi was deputed as special officer to form the Commissionerate. The new Police Commissionerate in Tambaram was formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on 1 January 2022. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Amalraj IPS took over charge as Commissioner of Police of Tambaram City Police.[36]
The Tambaram police commissionerate functions with two police districts—Tambaram and Pallikaranai, comprising 20 police stations. For ease of administration, Somangalam and Manimangalam police stations from Kancheepuram district along with Otteri, Guduvanchery, Maraimalai Nagar, Thalambur and Kelambakkam police stations from Chengalpattu district have been attached to the Tambaram Police Commissionerate.[39]