The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Taking steps towards problem-free road

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Monday, Sep 22, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Taking steps towards problem-free road

Staff Reporter

Walkathon organised on the Marina

Photo: M. Vedhan.

FOR A CAUSE: A walkathon organised by Walking Classes Unite in progress at the Marina Beach on Sunday. —

CHENNAI: For them, it did not matter that it was Sunday. Children, youths, persons with disability and senior citizens participated in the walkathon organised by Walking Classes Unite (WCU) on the Marina Beach on Sunday.

The walkathon, which was inaugurated near the Labour Statue, proceeded through the service roads of the beach before winding up at the Pattinapakkam Housing Board Playground.

T. Venkat, one of the coordinators of WCU, said the walkathon was organised to make people aware of the unsafe walking spaces on the city streets. Mr. Venkat said the WCU had been organising walking audits in association with residents’ welfare associations in various localities to expose the difficulties faced by the pedestrians and to make the authorities take necessary steps.

Actor Charu Hassan , a regular walker at the Besant Nagar Beach, flagged off the walkathon. He said he was happy to be a mascot for pedestrians and appreciated the WCU for such an event to create awareness, and seeking more walking spaces in the city.

National Hawkers Federation of India Chennai District president M. Sampath commended the organisers for the initiative, and described the ordeal of pedestrians owing to encroachments on the footpaths.

Mr. Sampath said hawkers could not be blamed for encroachment of road space, as their livelihood depended on hawking. He pointed out that the Madras High Court had directed the Chennai Corporation to allot separate hawking spaces so that pedestrians and hawkers could coexist.

M. Karun, a participant in the walkathon, said the route of the walkathon itself was full of obstacles, as the participants had to manoeuvre through a narrow service road occupied by cars and two-wheelers and construction material kept for the beautification of the Marina Beach.

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