The Hindu 23.04.2010
“Hold public hearing on underground parking lot”
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: With the authorities agreeing to hold a public hearing on the proposed underground multi-level car parking on Venkatnarayana Road, T. Nagar, the Madras High Court has said that the public hearing be conducted on April 30, or, if required, on any subsequent date.
In its order on a petition, the First Bench consisting of Chief Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice V. Dhanapalan said that the Chennai Corporation would submit its report to the court on June 14 by which time, the hearing would be completed. In the meanwhile, status quo already granted would continue.
The writ petitioner, R. Chandran of T.Nagar, said the authorities had decided to construct car parking in the Corporation playground on Venkatnarayana Road. The playground had a concrete flood lit basketball court with a gallery.
The basketball court had been the venue of State-level tournaments. The decision to convert the playground into a car park came as a rude shock to young players. Elders came to the playground in the evenings for relaxation. The residents' views were never sought before deciding to construct the facility. The petitioner sought an order to restrain the authorities from constructing the car park or converting the playground for any other purpose.
Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni, in his counter, said that the vehicle population in the city had increased over the years. Due to insufficient parking area in T. Nagar, visitors parked their vehicles on roadsides causing traffic congestion. Only an underground parking system had been proposed without disturbing the present playground.
When the matter came up, Additional Advocate-General P. Wilson, after obtaining instructions from government, agreed to provide for a public hearing. The Bench directed the Chennai Corporation to issue an advertisement in an English and Tamil daily on or before April 24 stating that the hearing would be held at a community centre in the area on April 30 or any subsequent date.
