Access to K.K. Nagar police station is not easy, as vehicles, mostly motorcycles, are parked along the road that lead to it. A case of unauthorised parking, this prevents visitors easy entry to the station. Residents of the neighbourhood say illegal parking on this stretch is a long-standing problem. Parking is allowed on one half of the two-way stretch, which has a footpath; police personnel and visitors make use of this space to park their motorcycles here. According to residents, police vans and jeeps used by inspectors from the crime and law and order (L&O) wings, for patrolling can also be seen parked on the footpath. Interestingly, a small traffic booth is being operated in front of the police station to regulate traffic on the stretch, which is chaotic during rush hour.
As this link road provides access to Nesapakkam, MGR Nagar, Jafferkhanpet, Chimyanagar, Ashok Nagar and Vadapalai from Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Main Road (also known as 100 Feet Road), the inconvenience caused to motorists is huge.“It is the job of the police to ensure public space is not encroached upon. Here, illegal parking seems to be ignored by the police,” said S. Rukmani, a resident of K.K. Nagar.
Much of the open space on the link road, including the newly-laid tiled cycling track, is used for illegal parking. Residents say that unlike Sivan park, located opposite the police station, where parking in front of the entrance is allowed only during visitors’ time in the morning and evening. At the park, parking is allowed only at the extreme end of the stretch, which leaves pedestrians with considerable space to walk about freely. This contrasts sharply with the situation on the stretch, one-half of which is encroached upon. With two-wheelers occupying this space, MTC buses and college and school vans cannot pass through it easily. According to police sources, lack of adequate space not only for parking but also for the routine functioning of the police station left them with no option but to allow visitors and police personnel to park their vehicles wherever they find open space.
Of all 12 police districts within four police zones (north, south, east and west) in the city, T. Nagar police district in South Police Zone is a small district with 11 police stations including Mambalam, Kodambakkam, Pondy Bazaar, MGR Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Vadapalani, Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam and Teynampet.
While police stations such as those in Vadapalani, Valasaravakkam and Ashok Nagar within the T. Nagar police district got their own new buildings in recent years, the police station in K.K Nagar has been operating from a dilapidated cramped building for the past few decades. The building lacks basic facilities such as a resting room for policemen and women constables during shift time, visitors’ hall, safe lock-ups, a record room and a modern office room with Internet and other communication facilities.
