Damaged pavements, unregulated parking in Egmore put pedestrians at risk

Stories from the roadDamaged pavements, unregulated parking in Egmore put pedestrians at risk

Pedestrians in Egmore face difficulty walking due to broken pavements that are encroached upon by parked two-wheelers and four-wheelers, as well as hawkers, small vendors, and eateries. The pavements are uneven, damaged, and even have holes in the middle, making walking hazardous.

Egmore is one of the prominent tourist spots in Chennai, known for its historical landmarks such as the Government Museum and the Connemara Library. People often use the pavements to walk to key spots like the Government Maternity Hospital, as well as nearby schools and colleges. Many students preparing for competitive exams also walk along these pavements to reach the Connemara Library.

With pavements encroached upon by parked vehicles, pedestrians are forced to walk on the road alongside moving traffic, raising concerns about their safety.

M. Yesubhadam, a pedestrian, said it is difficult to walk on the pavements across the area, especially after dark or during rainy weather, as they are in poor condition. “I request the government to take immediate action to repair the damaged pavements,” he added.

Although the pavements are barricaded with steel fences, they are broken at several points, allowing two-wheelers to be parked inside the barricaded areas. Vehicles continue to be parked despite the presence of ‘no parking’ signboards.

Despite efforts by the authorities to address encroachments, pedestrians still struggle to walk due to shops set up on the pavements and vehicles parked along them. A pedestrian, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that some buildings do not allow vehicles inside, leading to chaos on the roads and forcing people to park on the pavements.

“I run a shop that provides essential supplies to the [Government Maternity] hospital, including uniforms used in the operation theatre. However, I have been fined multiple times by the Chennai Corporation for setting up my stall on the pavement in front of the hospital. We usually return and set up the shop again a day or two after receiving a warning from the corporation officials,” said a vendor operating outside the hospital.