The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Heart of city has its own ailments

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Friday, May 30, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Heart of city has its own ailments

Kannal Achuthan

— Photo: M. Vedhan

HURDLE: Cars of a driving school parked along Velayutham Street in Nungambakkam take up much of the public road space.

Chennai: Located in the heart of the city, the Nungambakkam zone (Chennai Corporation Zone VII) is the city’s entertainment hub. Swanky malls, movie theatres, restaurants and showrooms of major brands have made the zone one of the highest revenue earners in terms of property tax for the Corporation.

Spencer Plaza, Sathyam Cinemas, the Taj hotels and the showrooms on Khader Nawaz Khan Road can offer several hours of shopping, entertainment and fine dining. The Valluvar Kottam is also a popular destination for visitors and tourists. But the bustling zone has its own set of problems: garbage, haphazard parking, traffic and encroachments on footpaths. Several showrooms and offices lack parking space and vehicles are stationed on the narrow residential roads off the main roads.

Parking troubles

The flyover at North Usman Road - Kodambakkam Road (Mahalingapuram) junction was the first to be completed among the package of four mini-flyovers proposed recently. However, traffic remains a big problem at the junction of Valluvar Kottam High Road and the Nungambakkam High Road. During peak hours in the evening, vehicles from Valluvar Kottam High Road proceeding to Anna Salai have to wait about 30 minutes at the Nungambakkam High Road traffic signal.

Residents of the locality have come to terms with living in a heavy traffic zone. However, illegal parking is one of their major concerns. G. Palani, general secretary of Nungambakkam Exnora Innovators Club, has written to the Corporation complaining of road space being taken up by tourist cabs, call taxis, driving school cars and mechanic shops.

“Tourist cabs that are illegally parked should be made to pay heavy parking fees. This will act as a deterrent,” Mr. Palani said.

Footpath encroachment

The residential lanes are encroached by makeshift stalls. A wastepaper mart on Veerabhadran Street has eaten into the footpath. T.S. Killivalavan, a resident of New Tank Street, said the road behind Independence Day Park is used as storage space for loads of sand. Despite several complaints to Corporation officials, the sale of sand continues unabated.

Fast food and fruit vendors line up in front of residential buildings opposite the Valluvar Kottam every day. The residents said that food wastes are often dumped in front of their homes. Hawkers have blocked off the entrance to a mattress showroom, which has been having less sales since then.

A scheme to compost garden wastes in the Independence Day Park was started with much fanfare but has now been dropped. Residents said the parks in the zone served as lung space for the city and they could also be showcased as model areas for green waste composting.

Zonal Officer M.S. Premnath said the Corporation was working to improve green spaces in the zone. A new park is being developed on Gandhi Irwin Road near the office of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. Parks along the banks of the Cooum have also been planned. A drive to improve property tax collection is under way. According to tax assessments, the zone should bring in about Rs. 55 crore per year.

Zone committee Chairman M.P. Anbudurai said several works had been taken up to improve roads and street lights in the area. Garbage clearance is being improved as compactor trucks are now being operated in five divisions, he said.

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