Old habits die hard. Old problems too. We often get accustomed to old problems, so much so that they cease to bother us. That may sound like an odd statement, but look at Eldams Road.
For years, the one-way section of the stretch has been a synonym for chaos, with haphazardly parked vehicles eating up much of the road space and hawkers occupying the fringes of the road.
Much of the footpaths have been gobbled up by commerce. Pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the busy thoroughfare, which is an MTC route.
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During peak hours, walking down this congested stretch is next to impossible.
“The street gets a huge volume of traffic, including buses and share autos. Adding to the problem is vehicles parked near commercial establishments, which have multiplied in the recent years. The street has footpaths only in certain places, and even these pedestrian spaces are taken – this time, by bikes, ” says Ramani, a resident of Teynampet.
People visiting a famous temple on the stretch add to the problem.
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“Devotees visiting the temple leave their vehicles on the road. Also, flower and fruit vendors have set up shop on the roadside. There is a small vegetable market, which attracts a lot of people from the neighbourhood, especially in the morning and evening. All these factors contribute to the chaos ,” says Banu, a regular commuter.
Making it a no-parking zone and removing encroachments alone can address the long-standing problem, say the residents.
“We need footpaths for pedestrians to walk safely. Some motorcyclists and autorickshaw drivers don’t follow the one-way rule. Such people should be penalised. Constant monitoring by traffic police is necessary,” says Ramani.