CHENNAI: Pedestrians using the footpath along Pantheon Road (near Amma Unavagam) are facing inconveniences due to GCC’s damaged garbage bins lying on the walkway, and vehicles being illegally parked on the footpath.
Several Corporation-owned dustbins in the area are broken and have toppled onto the footpath, making it unsafe and, in some stretches, impossible for pedestrians to walk. As the Amma Unavagam is currently not functioning, the entire premises fall under the control of the civic body.
Pantheon Road is used daily by kids of the nearby Chennai Urdu Girls Primary School, students from nearby colleges, government employees and the general public. Residents said the damaged bins on the footpath have added to the difficulties, especially during peak hours.
Kumar, a resident, fumed, “The damaged dustbins have been lying on the footpath for days. A contractor was recently appointed to replace old and damaged bins with newly designed ones, but the bins that were removed were dumped near the Amma Unavagam instead of being taken away. This blocked nearly half of the footpath. And, garbage has not been cleared from some of the bins, causing a foul smell in the area.”
Additionally, two-wheelers and four-wheelers are being parked in a manner that completely encroaches upon the footpath. In several spots, vehicles are parked directly on the walkway, forcing pedestrians to step onto the busy carriageway.
The situation has caused particular hardship to senior citizens, women, children and persons with disabilities. With heavy vehicular movement on Pantheon Road, pedestrians walking on the road face an increased risk of accidents.
“Footpaths are meant to ensure safe movement for pedestrians, but on Pantheon Road, the walkway has been rendered unusable due to Corporation-owned damaged dustbins and indiscriminate parking,” rued a pedestrian.
Residents urged civic officials to immediately remove the damaged bins, relocate them to appropriate locations and strictly prevent parking on the footpath to restore safe pedestrian movement.