No place for people on T Nagar footpaths
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:02.05.2019
Pinjala Subramaniam Street in T Nagar was one among the 23 interior roads in T Nagar that got wider footpaths with bollards for easy pedestrian movement in the last one year under the Smart City Mission. But less than a year later, the footpath is being cordoned off to store construction material, besides being encroached with parked vehicles. With the footpath rendered useless, people living in the residential area have no option but to walk on the road amid vehicles plying non-stop.
“I have never seen this footpath devoid of encroachments. Sometimes piles of bricks are placed on it, else sand and cement are dumped along the space. If it is free, two-wheelers are parked here, so we are forced to walk on the road. Senior citizens are the worst affected. As this is adjacent to a commercial and shopping area, there is a constant flow of vehicles here, so pedestrians are put to peril and discomfort,” said Latha D, a resident of T Nagar.
People living in and around the area also said that several newly widened pavements had been encroached and misused in a similar fashion.
“Whenever a complaint is filed with the zone-level officials, no action is taken. So, we have stopped complaining,” said VS Jayaraman, a resident of T Nagar.
He added that other newly laid footpaths, such as that along Ramanjuar Street, are being used by eateries as an extension of their establishments.
“The eatery-owners lay chairs on to the footpath and occupy it. The footpath widening has been more beneficial to encroachers than for pedestrians,” said Jayaraman.
When an official from Kodambakkam zone was contacted, he said that he will inspect the footpath along Pinjala Subramaniam Street and have the construction material removed.
“Usually, if we confront workers storing such material on the footpath, they promise that they will clear the area in a day or two. So, no action is taken. But if it is an inconvenience, it will be cleared,” he said.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:02.05.2019
Pinjala Subramaniam Street in T Nagar was one among the 23 interior roads in T Nagar that got wider footpaths with bollards for easy pedestrian movement in the last one year under the Smart City Mission. But less than a year later, the footpath is being cordoned off to store construction material, besides being encroached with parked vehicles. With the footpath rendered useless, people living in the residential area have no option but to walk on the road amid vehicles plying non-stop.
“I have never seen this footpath devoid of encroachments. Sometimes piles of bricks are placed on it, else sand and cement are dumped along the space. If it is free, two-wheelers are parked here, so we are forced to walk on the road. Senior citizens are the worst affected. As this is adjacent to a commercial and shopping area, there is a constant flow of vehicles here, so pedestrians are put to peril and discomfort,” said Latha D, a resident of T Nagar.
People living in and around the area also said that several newly widened pavements had been encroached and misused in a similar fashion.
“Whenever a complaint is filed with the zone-level officials, no action is taken. So, we have stopped complaining,” said VS Jayaraman, a resident of T Nagar.
He added that other newly laid footpaths, such as that along Ramanjuar Street, are being used by eateries as an extension of their establishments.
“The eatery-owners lay chairs on to the footpath and occupy it. The footpath widening has been more beneficial to encroachers than for pedestrians,” said Jayaraman.
When an official from Kodambakkam zone was contacted, he said that he will inspect the footpath along Pinjala Subramaniam Street and have the construction material removed.
“Usually, if we confront workers storing such material on the footpath, they promise that they will clear the area in a day or two. So, no action is taken. But if it is an inconvenience, it will be cleared,” he said.
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