Amid protest from councillors, Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa cancelled the proposal to convert 21 stretches of roads in the city into paid parking lots for vehicles.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M. Chellam raised the issue at the council meeting here on Friday saying that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam that had opposed a similar move during the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-rule in the council was now bringing the proposal that would affect the common man.
AIADMK member S.D. Jayabalan echoed the same view even as the Mayor said that his own party men had opposed the proposal. AIADMK zonal chairperson R. Jeyavel said that select roads could be taken up for paid parking. The Mayor seconded his proposal to have paid parking in front of a shopping mall on Gokhale Road since the mall was charging exorbitant parking charges. “We will consider regulating parking on the road in consultation with the police,” he added.
Mr. Jayabalan said that the Corporation should take steps to regulate entry timings of lorries into the city. “Timings for entry of lorry into the city was strictly adhered to during the previous AIADMK regime. But, it was changed during the DMK rule. As a result, lorries are seen all the time on city roads. Newer parcel booking offices are coming up everywhere hindering smooth flow of and vehicle and pedestrian traffic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the council passed a resolution in connection with shifting of omni bus terminal from near the Periyar bus stand to Mattuthavani. The corporation would provide bus bays, basic facilities for the passengers and bus operation at a cost of Rs. 1 crore.
Another resolution with regard to provision of mobile phone handsets and SIM cards with closed user group facility was also passed.
A good part of the council discussion went in arguments over the rights of the Standing Committee on Town Planning in approving building plans. While Chairperson J. Rajalingam read out a lengthy statement quoting High Court rulings, Chief Town Planning Officer Rakkappan said that any building plan that did not have official approval would be considered unauthorised. The resolution by the standing committee had to be approved by the Corporation Commissioner.
The Mayor said that the issue could be settled through discussion.
Earlier, the DMK members were up on their feet when the Mayor did not invite their representative to speak first during the meeting. One of the members tore the agenda copy before the DMK members staged a walkout in protest.
