Exercise to widen pavements in Kasthurba Nagar draws flak

  • | Saturday | 14th July, 2018

Members of Kasthurba Nagar Residents Association and Federation of Adyar Residents’ Associations (FEDERA) believe wider footpaths will only more harm than good. “Despite widened pavements, pedestrians continue to walk on the roads as they have been doing all these years. The Greater Chennai Corporation has started widening the pavements at Third Cross Street, Kasthurba Nagar, Adyar. Going by the plan, Third Cross Street at Kasthurba Nagar is not a bus route road,” members pointed out. Kannan, a member of Kasthurba Nagar Residents Association.

The Greater Chennai Corporation has started widening the pavements at Third Cross Street, Kasthurba Nagar, Adyar. The exercise, which is part of a larger Smart City Mission initiative, has however come in for sharp criticism from residents. Members of Kasthurba Nagar Residents Association and Federation of Adyar Residents’ Associations (FEDERA) believe wider footpaths will only more harm than good. “The pavements which were 5ft or 6ft at some places have now been widened to 9ft, resulting in a huge reduction of road space. Despite being widened, these pavements are not benefitting pedestrians,” say FEDERA members. “Until the issue of encroachments on pavements is addressed, widening of footpaths makes litte sense. Even before the completion of pavement-widening work, vendors have started encroaching upon the pavements,” says C. Ramakrishnan, secretary, FEDERA. The pavement is also being misused as a parking lot as there are many commercial establishments and eateries along the street. “Despite widened pavements, pedestrians continue to walk on the roads as they have been doing all these years. This has defeated the purpose of the Smart City project,” says V.C. Kannan, a member of Kasthurba Nagar Residents Association. Residents also pointed out the stormwater drain along the pavements does not seem to be the right gradient. “As per the project plan, only pavements on bus route road will be widened. Going by the plan, Third Cross Street at Kasthurba Nagar is not a bus route road,” members pointed out. “Second Avenue in Indra Nagar where MTC services 6 and 6D ply should have been taken up under the project. On the stretch, there are no pavements at several spots and at some places, the slabs are broken. Also, on L.B. Road, another bus route road, there are no pavements on many sections, especially near the zonal office of the Corporation. The existing pavements are too narrow and pedestrians cannot walk on them as eateries have kept their utensils and water cans there. Also, stools have been kept on the pavements for customers to sit on. Ideally, those two roads should have been considered for the Smart City project,” says Ramakrishnan. Residents recall how widened pavements along M.G. Road in Shastri Nagar and Second Avenue in Besant Nagar are now being misused as a parking lot for vehicles and also encroached upon by food carts and vendors. FEDERA has also given a representation to the Corporation seeking more clarification of another project which is expected to be taken up in Gandhi Nagar. The project, funded by a German organisation, aims to improve streets for the benefit of cyclists, pedestrians and differently-abled people. “The cycling track in K.K. Nagar is a testimony to the fact that such tracks don’t benefit cyclists and pedestrians at all. Unless the Corporation comes up with a stringent system to address encroachments, there is no use in widening the pavements,” says Ramakrishnan.

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