Barricades are generally used by law enforcement agencies to regulate crowds during temple festivals or VVIP visits. One does not get to see barricades outside Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets.
But the TASMAC outlet on Babu Road in the city has barricades erected for a distance of about five feet to regulate customers visiting the wine shop during “peak hours” between 7 pm and 10 pm. Local residents cite the barricades as proof to the nuisance that they have to undergo daily due to the presence of a large number of customers and their drunken behaviour.
While the trauma and agony is not new to them, it is the opening of another outlet in the same area that has upset them profoundly. TASMAC officials, who were forced to close an outlet near Murugan Theatre on East Boulevard Road following a court order, opened another one on Babu Road just a few buildings away from the existing shop.
Both outlets do hectic business during peak hours and weekends. Around 70 to 80 men can be seen waiting in front of the units to buy liquor. Reason why officials were forced to erect barricades to regulate the swelling crowds.
And the situation has taken a toll on local residents. The common refrain is that the customers park their two-wheelers in a haphazard manner and spend hours at the outlets and bars. And under the influence of liquor, they use derogatory language.
“The nuisance caused by the inebriated men has reached intolerable levels. They fight, park haphazardly, tease passers-by, and lay prostrate on the streets. No peace-loving citizen can tolerate the situation,” said G. Murali, a local resident.
“We are undergoing a tough time. We do not want to see a long queue before the outlets or inebriated men creating a scene in residential areas. The officials cannot be mute spectators to the menace,” said S. Mathrubutham, a long-time resident of Babu Road.
V. Sankaran, an employee of BHEL, said women and children were the most affected, especially while crossing roads. The outlets must be shifted to non-residential areas, he added.
