Pedestrianising few congested zone can decongest traffic issue
Bikes illegally parked being seized by the traffic police (Photo: DC)
Chennai: Regimes come and go, but traffic congestion in T. Nagar continues to be a perennial problem plaguing motorists and local residents at least for the past 15 years.“Government bodies have been turning a blind eye and several projects aimed at decongesting the commercial hub of Chennai either remains on paper or thwarted by vested interests,” said Mr Saidai Ravi, former opposition floor leader of the city corporation.
“When private players can construct multilevel parking lots, what has stopped the corporation from constructing parking facilities? Babus always played spoilsport, when it comes to T Nagar,” he complained. Recalling the failed attempts of the corporation, a senior civic official said that there have been several initiatives from the corporation to decongest but most of the proposals were shot down. In 2006, former legislator J. Anbalagan of DMK and the AIADMK councillor wanted to convert the government police quarters next to T. Nagar bus terminal in to a multi-storey parking lot, but the Chennai city police put a spanner in the works as it would force the policemen to look for an alternate residence.
Later in 2009, the corporation wanted to clear a section of Panagal Park and set up a parking lot and this was opposed by green activists. Finally the civic body in 2010 identified a playground to be constructed as a multi-storey parking complex, but local youngsters and residents opposed the move as it would render the children without a playground, he added.
The municipal body has been positive about recent suggestions from urban planners and local residents. The authorities can try the module of Times Square and Shangai, where the local authorities pedestrianised a few zones to decongest the area, said Raj Charubal of City Connect, a firm that works on urban planning and solutions.
Conversion of vehicle chocked streets into pedestrian only public spaces was a huge success in Times Square and the initiative by New York authorities led to increase in pedestrian traffic and more revenues for local stores, besides reducing traffic and congestion, Mr Charubal added.
Next Story
