Abandoned vehicles including mangled cars are known to take up road space in Anna Nagar, Mogappair and surrounding areas. Even key roads such as Park Road, TVS Avenue Main Road and School Road in Anna Nagar Western Extension, Pari Salai and Collector Nagar Main Road, Mogappair, are not spared this scourge. It must be noted that the Greater Chennai Corporation has issued orders to all 15 zonal offices, comprising 200 wards, to remove abandoned vehicles from public places, including pavements and vacant lands. The drive began on March 14, 2018. As per the orders, the civic body has seized 5,882 abandoned vehicles from all its zones between March 14 and July 17 this year. Of the 5,882 vehicles, owners of 293 vehicles reclaimed their vehicles after producing original documents to the respective deputy commissioner of police (DCP). A Corporation official said a grace period of 15 days has been given (after July 17) to the owners of the remaining 5,589 abandoned vehicles for re-claiming their vehicles after producing original documents. Once the grace period is over, the civic body will auction the seized vehicles through e-tender, next month. Despite such seizures, many vehicles remain uncleared on the lanes of Anna Nagar, Padi, Mogappair, Ambattur and Athipet, which come under Zone-7 (Ambattur). Dumping of vehicles on streets hinder traffic movement, especially during rush hour. More importantly, pedestrians are forced to walk on the carriageway. “Car mechanic sheds also dump unused vehicles on the streets due to lack of parking space inside their sheds. TVS Avenue Main Road in Mogappair is an example of this,” said K. Sankaran, a resident of Anna Nagar. Corporation officials said most of these abandoned vehicles are found in the added areas of the Greater Chennai Corporation such as Manali, Ambattur, Sholinganallur, Valasaravakkam and Alandur. The reason for the greater presence of these vehicles in these areas: availability of large open spaces. “As there are no clear guidelines, including deadlines, we remove the abandoned vehicles whenever we have time for the work,” said a Corporation official.

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