Problems pertaining to a neighbourhood can bring its residents together.
The one-way arrangement introduced on the Mada Streets on March 8, drew immense criticism, forcing the traffic department to revoke the traffic measure; more significantly, it has paved the way for the formation of a residents association for all Mylaporeans.
On March 22, nearly 20 people met at Nageshwar Rao Park to prepare the ground for forming such an association.
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“Unlike R.A. Puram and Mandaveli, Mylapore does not have an association representing the voices of the entire neighbourhood. There may be a few streets with their associations but these groups play a limited role, attending only to problems in their street or apartments,” says Sridhar Venkataraman, a resident of East Abhiramapuram, who initiated the meeting.
Matters such as membership and drafting the bye-laws will be addressed in the course of the next few months. At present, residents are focussed on building the team, bringing in a cross-section of professionals. Individuals who have campaigned to highlight issues at their streets are expected to be taken on board.
The urgent issue for these residents is making it easy for anyone to walk down the three Mada Streets around Sri Kapaleeshwar Temple, which means ensuring hawkers are evicted and more parking space is created for visitors to this area.
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A solution to these problems can be worked out only with the cooperation of the traffic department and Corporation officials, say residents.
M.J. Thulasiram, a long-time resident, says his father M.G. Jayasingh was instrumental in getting South Mada Street made one-way for 12 years from 1988 to 2000 as residents were united in their demand for such a traffic arrangement.
“South Mada Street was a purely residential stretch then with 15 to 20 houses. He got signatures from most of the residents, met officials and explained the necessity of a one-way arrangement,” says Thulasiram.
Getting a similar support from residents today has become a challenge as most independent houses have given way to commercial establishments.