Chennai: The
Chennai corporation has proposed to construct 30 more night shelters in
the city, having recently ope­ned 15 new ones besides the existing 15
in Chennai.

The city corporation has also claimed space
from the CMDA-controlled places at the Koyambedu bus stand and
Madhavaram lorry shed. Vacant spaces at the MRTS construction sites are
also asked for construction of new night shelters. Besides, places are
also identified at zonal levels and some sites rented, according to
sources.

“We are following the
Supreme Court’s direction in constructing the shelters and additional
shelters besides these 30 will also be considered in case of need,” said
a Corporation official.

The corporation carries out the
functions of these nigth shelters in coordination with the city-based
NGOs. The civic body also runs special shelters for women, children and
mentally ill people.

“One
shelter must be constructed for every lakh of population in the city,
and hence the corporation has initiated this move,” the official added.
“There are many people who sleep on the pavement in my area. The
corporation must inte­nsify identifying the homeless and provide
everyone a shelter this monsoon,” said J. Pankaj, a resident of MGR
Nagar.