Is model footpath for vehicles?

Chennai: The Harrington Road footpath has not been completed yet but it already has many admirers. More than pedestrians, cars, auto rickshaws, two wheelers and tea stalls are among the prominent users of this model footpath being laid by Chennai corporation. Though the civic body has earmarked parking spots on the street and even gone as far as colouring it differently to help with identification, motorists are content leaving their vehicles on the footpath.

The bollards erected to prevent entry of vehicles seem to serve no purpose at all. Even as the pavement laying work goes on, tea stalls stand firm obstructing the work. “There are two stalls that have obtained a stay order from HC. So, we cannot remove them,” said a corporation official. Yet, there are more than just two stalls occupying the footpaths and by the looks of it, the civic body would lay pavement tiles around the structures before the dispute is settled.

“We don’t want the shops to be removed because they also form a part of our residential community. But, the shops should be realigned so that it doesn’t obstruct walking space,” said a resident who declined to be identified. Complicating the situation of vehicle encroachment on footpaths is the fact that there are six schools in the vicinity. “The schools do very little to reduce congestion. They could at least let vehicles inside their premises to pick up children,” an official said.

When DC queried the principal of a prominent school here, he said the school allows vehicle entry, a fact that was rebuffed immediately by a horde of auto drivers waiting impatiently outside his school campus. “We see it as 10 minutes work and that is why we park (on footpath). But, also look at the parents who bring their two wheelers. The school security directs them to park on the pavement,” said Annadurai, an auto driver.

Civic body officials also decried a lack of enforcement as one of the key reasons for the issue.“We can provide the space but it is also the responsibility of traffic police to enforce action by way of penalising violators,” an official said. Traffic cops deployed at the scene too washed their hands of the responsibility. According to them, they would do well to avoid trouble by not wheel clamping a violator’s vehicle.

“The residents belong to high places. We have had enough with their strong arm tactics. In the end, it is always the low cadre personnel who gets the stick,” said a traffic cop, requesting anonymity.