Mini trucks and autorickshaws are parked illegally on Anna Salai despite repeated complaints from pedestrians. , photo credit: ss kumar
Illegal and haphazard parking along the major roads of the city has become a nightmare for the commuters and residents. Anna Salai, the main road that connects various lanes in the boulevard, is getting congested by the day, with pedestrians and public transport users suffering the most.
Due to lack of constant patrolling, drivers tend to park their mini trucks on either side of the road causing inconvenience to pedestrians and obstructing the smooth flow of traffic. According to Susai Raj, a resident of Needrajpayar Street, haphazard parking of vehicles has made it difficult to pass through Anna Salai.
“Vehicles, especially buses, regularly ply on the road. On the stretch from Raja Theater Junction to Bussi Street intersection, the road remains a mess throughout the day with mini trucks, autorickshaws and cars. We repeatedly demanded to keep mini trucks off the road, but the traffic police did not take any action. Once the mini-trucks are diverted to a common parking area, more space will be available for road users,” Mr Raj said.
According to an urban planner, “Most of the commercial buildings in this area lack parking. This means vehicles are parked on the road itself. The problem is acute in several areas of the city including Busi Street and Mahatma Gandhi Road. Roads were built decades ago, and the rapid increase in the number of vehicles has made motoring a terrifying experience.
A police official admitted that illegal parking ate up road space and was a major reason for traffic jams in the city. “We are taking action against violators and imposing spot fines. However, many residents ignore the rules, causing inconvenience to other drivers and commuters. While clamps are used on four-wheelers, two-wheelers are pulled by cranes and owners have to pay fines to get their vehicles back. A traffic police official said, if multi-level parking is built in the city, then the problem of illegal parking will be reduced to a great extent.