Residents living in and around Usman Road, T.Nagar, suffer the most during every festive season as the problem of haphazard parking worsens year after year.
With the increase in commercial establishments in T.Nagar, the city's popular shopping destination, finding a space for parking vehicles has become a hassle and hence the motorists take over the bylanes.
Residents of Rangan Street said the situation worsened after the flyover had been constructed as the space under it was being used as a private parking lot, often proving a hindrance to traffic.
On many streets, even the pavements are being used for vehicle parking by commercial establishments. Though the Chennai Corporation had proposals to regulate such unauthorised parking, none of them has materialised yet, they said.
N.Ramanujam, a resident of Sarojini Street, said that all bylanes of Usman Road, particularly Mahalakshmi Street, Motilal Street, Venkatesan Street, Pinjala Subramanian Street and Ramaswamy Street, are used as parking lots.
While the service lanes of Usman Road have been turned into autorickshaw parking lots, the by-lanes are occupied by two-wheelers. “We cannot get out of the streets even during emergencies as the vehicles obstruct the way. The need of the hour is to make the bylanes no-parking zones,” he said.
Emphasising the need to enforce traffic rules, residents of Nana Street said the presence of the ‘no-parking' signage does not deter the motorists from leaving their vehicles on their street for several hours.
K. Vandana, a resident of Pinjala Subramaniam Street, said “We always have to be on vigil to prevent parking in front of the gate. Otherwise, we will be forced to wait till the vehicle owner returns. I have often moved two wheelers to enter my house.”
Petty shops and eateries also contribute to the congestion. “Some textile shops in T.Nagar have earmarked space on the streets for parking. Pedestrians have to dodge speeding vehicles on the stretch,” she said.
Though it is one-way and entry is not permitted through Dhandapani Street, motorists often violate rules to avoid a detour and traffic, she added.
Mayor M. Subramanian said the civic body was looking at various options to address the issue of parking in T.Nagar after the Supreme Court rejected its proposal to construct an underground facility on Venkatnarayana Road.
“We are identifying streets across the city feasible for parking one side or both the sides. The problem in T.Nagar too would be solved by January end,” he said.
The civic body is also discussing measures to regulate unauthorised parking. Once the hawkers are shifted to the complex in Pondy Bazaar, the roads in T.Nagar would be decongested, he added.
