The Hindu 25.11.2011
A tale of making and unmaking of multi-level parking lot proposals
“T. Nagar’s problem is not just lack of parking space”
Over the years, several plans to construct multi-level
parking lots in T.Nagar have not taken off due to objections from
residents and a definite ‘no’ from the Supreme Court in one case.
A
recent proposal from the Chennai Corporation to construct such a
facility on Bashyam Street is still in the nascent stage and the area,
which has a mix of residential and commercial usage, continues to
suffer.
Residents of streets such as Ramanathan
Street, Rangan Street, Rameshwaram Road, Mangesh Street and Pinjala
Subramaniam Street have to grit their teeth in frustration as vehicles
are parked there at all times.
A. Balaji, a resident
of T.Nagar, says: “Vehicles bringing goods to the shops block traffic
on the narrow thoroughfares that form the backbone of our area. The
police introduced a rule that heavy vehicles can enter the locality only
after 10 p.m. but nobody enforces it now. During the weekend,
two-wheelers and cars are parked haphazardly, causing much inconvenience
to residents.”
Passing through T.Nagar too is an
issue. “The flyovers have not served their purpose. There is not much
traffic on them. For some time small traders and passers-by used the
space beneath the South Usman Road flyover,” says a retailer.
For
shoppers like Sridharan, a resident of Rangarajapuram, parking in
T.Nagar is a headache. “There have been instances of car tyres being
deflated if parked on small streets. If I go by myself I prefer to shop
after 8 p.m. so that I can park my car near the shops. But when the
entire family comes along, I have to trouble my friend on Venkatesan
Street for parking space. Though the area has grown enormously, the
shops have not bothered to provide adequate parking space for vehicles,”
he says.
Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetti, honorary
president of Usman Road Traders’ Association, says that the multi-level
parking lot would no doubt help cars. “Shopkeepers must provide parking
space in proportion to the built-up area. They must think ahead. Our
shop has space for parking 200 cars at a time. May be in five years, we
will construct a multi-level parking lot for our customers,” he says.
Mayor
Saidai S. Duraisamy says the Chennai Corporation says any initiative
from the traders to provide parking space will be welcome. “Ever since
the issue of sealing shops on Ranganathan Street arose, many people have
been suggesting that traders convert space in their buildings for use
as car parks or purchase land and develop multi-level car parking lots.”
Transportation engineers, however, say that T.Nagar
has nearly 20 times the parking requirement of a popular mall on Dr.
Radhakrishnan Salai. “Two thousand parking slots is what T.Nagar
requires … creating space for 200 is hardly enough. You need space for
at least 600 cars; otherwise, too many people may try to use it and it
will create a jam,” says an expert.
However,
T.Nagar’s problem is not just lack of parking space, says A.N.
Sachithanandan, immediate past president, Institute of Town Planners.
“It is much larger and requires a courageous solution. There has to be a
freeze on change of land use. Pedestrianisation is the simplest
solution. The roads between the Mambalam railway station and
Venkatnarayana Road have to be pedestrianised. During Deepavali people
accept vehicular regulations for 15 days. That should be extended.”