Residents complain about the bad state of footpaths along most roads in the city

Pedestrian facilities in many parts of the Chennai Metropolitan Area have deteriorated due to issues including civic works and encroachments. According to an official of the Corporation, the restoration work will begin in a fortnight

Pedestrian facilities, including footpaths, pedestrian plazas and marked crosswalk spaces have deteriorated in various parts of the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Residents’ associations have flagged the issue, demanding the removal of encroachment along footpaths and roads and the restoration of damaged footpaths.

A councillor in Anna Nagar zone said Metro Rail started demolishing buildings a week ago, and the public spaces for pedestrians had reduced, increasing the risk of accidents. The well-laid granite footpaths, which were dug up for stormwater drains, were yet to be re-laid properly in many zones, he added.

Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, said the civic agencies had dug up wide footpaths and constructed new drains. “It is a sheer waste of public money. In many places, pedestrians are forced to walk on the carriageway of roads,” he said.

N. Viswanathan, a lawyer, said: “Walkers face hurdles on Lakshmanasamy Salai, Ramasamy Salai, Kamarajar Salai and Rajamannar Salai in K.K. Nagar. The granite blocks were demolished and removed for the construction of stormwater drains and have been not re-laid yet. Moreover street vendors also encroach upon the pavement with the support of local politicians.”

The pavements in Easwaran Koil Street, near Madley Subway, in West Mambalam have not been re-laid, posing a challenge to commuters, said R. Sridharan, a commuter. “I tripped and almost fell twice. It is such a busy area so we cannot walk on the road. And, if the pavement is also in poor condition, how will commuters walk,” he asked.

In commercial areas, such as T. Nagar, Broadway and Purasawalkam, pavements have been damaged or occupied by hawkers or encroached upon by shops. At several places, the bollards installed by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) after the renovation of the footpaths have also been damaged.

V.S. Jayaraman, an office-bearer of the T. Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, said footpaths on all streets near South Usman Road had become unusable due to illegal parking and hawkers. Bollards installed on renovated pavements to stop two-wheelers had been damaged by hawkers, he said.