Every morning, S. Kumerasan, a resident of Anna Nagar, parks his two cars in the open space in front of his house, located behind Second Avenue Main Road. This has been the 52-year-old’s morning ritual since the stretch was opened for two-way traffic. Two-way traffic was restored when Metro Rail services between Shenoy Nagar and Koyambedu were started.
Lack of adequate parking facilities on Second Avenue Road, which connects Tirumangalam and Anna Nagar Roundtana junction, forces residents like Kumerasan to take such measures.
Shoppers find the one-kilometre stretch convenient to park their vehicles. From two-wheelers to luxury cars, a range of vehicles can be seen lining the dozen street lanes off Second Avenue Main Road. As a result, those living on these lanes find it difficult to take their vehicles out.
To get around this problem, residents started parking their vehicles in front of their houses, thereby preventing others to park there.
Second Avenue Main Road offers a raft of facilities, including hospitals, coaching institutes, banks and ATM kiosks and a post office to residents of Anna Nagar, Mogappair, Nolambur, Chintamani, Tirumangalam, Shenoy Nagar, Pulla Avenue and Choolaimedu.
“We see many new vehicles on our streets, especially in the evening hours, since the opening of Metro Rail. The illegal parking is becoming a nuisance,” points out S. Pavitra, a resident of Anna Nagar.
The two-way traffic and Metro Rail services have, however, given a boost to businesses.
The stretch has also been restored to its original width of 60 feet, making it convenient for shoppers to hang out in the evenings. A neatly-laid tiled footpath and concrete median are part of the widened road. LED street lamps have also been installed.
At present, the stretch has a narrow lane for parking, thanks to the traders, who have their outlets along the stretch leaving no space for shoppers to park their vehicles.
Further, vehicles that are parked away from the designated parking lane were towed away by the traffic police. As a result, shoppers park their vehicles on street lanes.
“A comprehensive plan for parking and to ease the traffic congestion in the neighbourhood will be drawn up after a joint meeting of the civic body, CMRL and the police,” said a Corporation official.
