Adjoining the three-storey office of Zone–11 of the Greater Chennai Corporation on the busy Arcot Road, there is a small garage on a piece of land that is protected with a compound wall.
Garbage-laden lorries of the civic body wait for their turn for their regular daily check-up at the garage. Once the vehicles are checked, they are parked in the same premises in a row. This land is meant for the creation of a playground-cum-park for residents in the neighbourhood.
At this playground-cum-park, spread over 9,600 sq.ft., a few physical training equipment is parked in one space. The rest of the playground is occupied by compactors and vehicles of civic officials.
“Despite being a playground–cum-park, we don’t take our children there as lorries frequent the facility and the place is quite noisy ,” says K. Prakasam, a resident of Valasaravakkam.
Also, residents say the presence of the garage enables intruders to enter the space, evading notice.
According to Corporation officials, the garage will be shifted to a different place. As the playground is located near the zonal office, Corporation officials have been able to keep an eye on the vehicles and prevent pilferage of fuel.
