Hours after inauguration, vehicles encroach plaza

A day after the inauguration of pedestrian plaza in T Nagar, two-wheelers and cars have encroached upon the now wider pedestrian pavement on Thyagaraya Road.

While the traffic police and armed reserve personnel were deployed on the stretch between Pondy Bazaar police station and Dr Nair Road junction to regulate the traffic and parking, the stretch beyond Dr Nair Road junction remained without regulation.

“I came to the pedestrian plaza only to see the changes and enjoy the new atmosphere. But several two-wheelers and cars were seen parked on the pavement opposite Holy Angels Convent. The civic body should regulate parking on the stretch as it had done between Pondy Bazaar police station and Dr Nair Road junction,” M Vishnupriya, a resident ofKodambakkam said.

She added that reckless two-wheeler drivers rode their vehicles on the pedestrian pavement that was widened to create the plaza. It runs along 1,450 metres between Panagal Park and Anna Salai.

Apart from the unauthorised parking, the shop owners demanded the Chennai Corporation to look into issues including setting up of toilet facilities along the plaza.

“Earlier, shop owners and employees had to walk to Panagal Park to relieve themselves. We expected the civic body to build toilet facilities at some spots on Thyagaraya Road while they planned pedestrian plaza. How shall we call this as a smart city project without the basic need like public toilets?” Raja, a shop owner, said.

He pointed out that the entire stretch of 1,450 meters of Thyagaraya Road does not have a public toilet facility.

Citing the lack of insufficient parking spaces, Raja urged the civic body to allocate more parking space for the two-wheelers. “Now, they have allocated more space for cars. Most of the customers come by two-wheelers. But, for the shop near Panagal Park stretch, Corporation has provided a vacant plot to park vehicles,” Raja added.

Sandeep, another shop owner said that the Chennai Corporation and police had introduced traffic regulations which are against theirwishes.

“We wanted the officials to allow the traffic from Panagal Park side as residential areas are located that side. But the current arrangement will affect our business,” he said.

Raj Cherubal, chief executive officer of Chennai Smart City Limited (CSCL), said that measures to curb unauthorised parking were being taken. “Illegal parking can be controlled once the parking management system comes into effect. Also, works of multi-level parking will be completed in three to four months to help prevent unauthorised parking,” Raj said.

Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash also said that the plans are under way to create toilet facilities on the pedestrian plaza andassured that parking wouldsoon be regulated.