For Anant, a Class X student, the walk from his school on Avvai Shanmugam Salai to the Anna Salai bus stop is a daily ordeal, as paver blocks remain unlaid, and eateries and petty shops encroach the roads. He is not alone, as residents across the city say footpaths are damaged, encroached upon, or missing.
An official of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) in Teynampet Zone said legal issues were delaying the construction of a footpath on the stretch from Avvai Shanmugam Salai to Anna Salai, on which four private schools and one GCC school are located. Following the recent zonal committee elections, the shops near the schools could be removed by members of the committee, as commercial outlets are not permitted within 200 metres of educational institutions, the official said, adding that the GCC Commissioner inspected the area recently and directed officials to take action.
Syed Abudahir, an advocate at the Madras High Court, and North Chennai East District Secretary of Manidhaneya Neya Makkal Katchi, said that in many areas, the pavements have been encroached upon by shops. He cited the stretch from Kasimedu to Suriyanarayana Park, where shops, dumping of waste, and public urination on the sidewalk force pedestrians to walk on the road.
Kalaivani, a resident of PTC Quarters in Thoraipakkam, said there had never been footpaths in Raju Nagar, PTC Quarters, Nehru Nagar, and Chandrasekar Avenue. These areas were densely populated, and people were forced to walk on the road or the construction debris dumped on the roadside.
Smitha Sadasivam, a person with a disability and a member of the Disability Rights Alliance, said that in many areas, ramps were either not available or were too short, for last-mile connectivity. She said pavements were often uneven and obstructed by trees, electric poles, manholes, and bollards. She called for adherence to accessibility guidelines.
Published – June 30, 2025 12:41 am IST
