No footpaths, one way road and garbage on main roads

Chennai

Garbage mounds on roadsides, encroachment of pavements, unauthorised parking of vehicles and over-speeding are some of the issues in residential areas in most parts of the city.

Concerned individuals who take these issues to the authorities find that it is an exercise. It is when authorised forums such as residential associations push the common cause that there is some response, but it is very slow.

In Adyar with the authorities concerned and seek redressal, says that though the federation has been able to bring the local authorities to the table to hear out people's voice over, there has been support from the officials and solutions only in some of the residents. A majority of the problems faced by residents in several areas such as delay in garbage/debris clearance, footpath encroachment, and lack of speed breakers and menace of over-speeding by motor bikes remain unsolved.

Traffic violation is a serious and perennial problem, especially at Adyar Signal as motorists coming from Lattice Bridge Road (LB ROAD) towards Malar Hospital take a ‘U' turn near Parry ware premises to pass through Gandhi Nagar despite the barricades put up by the traffic police. “Two wheeler riders and auto drivers violate the ‘No entry' rule, especially during the morning peak hour, disrupting traffic in the junction and posing a threat to pedestrians.”

Likewise, though First Main Road in Gandhi Nagar adjacent to the Adyar Bus Depot has been made one-way, motorists violate the rule as several commercial establishments are located on the road. “These shops have no parking facility and the road is packed with vehicles on both sides, adding to the chaos on the road.” A similar situation prevails in Second Main Road as customers to a prominent sweet shop there park vehicles haphazardly, inconveniencing the residents and pedestrians.

Mr. Murthraman says that in Kasturba Nagar, the Corporation has installed a steel structure on the footpath of the busy Third Cross Street for dumping garbage, which is a health hazard for the residential area. The structure is not only eating up the pavement of a busy road that is blocked with traffic at all times, but will also lead to large scale dumping of waste by food chain outlets and restaurants in the area, he fears. “Senior citizens and children who are forced to walk on the path of speeding vehicles are at risk of being hit. Besides, stale food and other waste dumped in the enclosure will raise a stink in the area and invite rodents and mosquitoes.” He also pointed to the encroachment of the road on Second Cross Street by vendors, causing a heavy traffic jam during peak hours.

Dumping of construction material by builders and houses was another problem faced in several areas. The authorities should penalize such offenders, and also wanted the authorities to provide speed breakers at important junctions with clear markings for visibility and sign boards but there is no development from government.