The Hindu : Front Page : New constructions add to chaos at Mylapore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 17, 2005

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New constructions add to chaos at Mylapore

Sandhya Soman

Traffic congestion extends up to R.K. Mutt Road

CONFOUNDED CONFUSION: New constructions on North Mada Street, Mylapore. -- PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN

CHENNAI: Bustling Mylapore is all set to turn into another T. Nagar: on offer is the `complete' shopping experience, including the traffic chaos and lack of parking space.

On North Mada Street, the epicentre of all action, the designated on-street parking lot, operated by the Chennai Corporation, is out of bounds even during lunch hour.

Cars are turned away from the packed parking area of a newly opened restaurant.

Traffic jam on the street, which is buzzing with construction work, extends up to the busy R.K. Mutt Road.

All round the Mylapore temple tank, older structures are giving way to huge glass and concrete commercial complexes. While regular shoppers, such as Viji Nageswaran, are planning to park "wherever there is space" next time and avoid the peak hours, resident

A. Manoharan is wondering how to cross the stretch at around 4 p.m. "I have to keep a close watch on my children while bringing them back from school."

He has to negotiate the vehicles of shoppers as well as buses that regularly transport tourists and devotees.

Lack of plan

K.J. Suriyanarayanan of Namma Mylapore, a volunteer group involved in preserving Mylapore's heritage, rues the lack of a parking arrangement that takes into account the recent developments.

"Tempers soar when the vehicles spill over to R.K. Mutt Road, which has a huge store with limited parking space," he says.

Namma Mylapore, says Mr. Suriyanarayanan, has urged the traffic police to make North Mada Street one-way as it accommodates a row of shops on one side and a parking lot on the other.

Study commissioned

A study of parking requirements commissioned by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority asked commercial complexes, hotels and restaurants to provide adequate off-street parking facilities. While planning on-street parking, authorities should ensure that sidewalks are provided.

And the amount of space in parking lots should take into consideration the road width.

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