Three Sundays have gone by since a one-km stretch of Elliot’s Beach was made out of bounds for motorised vehicles on Sundays, and the initiative shows signs of spreading to other neighbourhoods.
A few residents from Mylapore are doing everything to have it initiated on the mada streets, people from Harrington Road are planning their own car-free Sundays.
Conceived by Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and Chennai City Connect Foundation and presented by The Hindu , Namma Chennai Namakke, which includes having car-free Sundays, is gaining momentum.
The number of people visiting Besant Nagar on Sunday morning between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. is said to have increased significantly.
“From nearly 4,000 in the first week, it has increased to another 3,000,” says M. Aswathy Dilip, senior associate, ITDP. Lending it colour are the different groups putting up interactive activities and the number of people from various neighbourhoods who participate in them.
The initiative completely depends on the interest shown by residents.
“We started it in Besant Nagar as we received the maximum support from the residents there. Groups like Chennai Runners and Chennai Trekking Club were ready to support,” she says.
Organisers say they are looking at resident associations/groups willing to take the lead in holding a stake holders’ meeting first.
“The pilot project will run for a year in Besant Nagar and based on the response it will be extended to other areas,” says Aswathy. They are also getting requests from residents to increase the duration on Sunday but a decision on that can be taken only in consultation with the police.
“We are looking at getting more volunteers who can help us man all the junctions,” she said.
If you wish to have a car-free day in your locality, email nchennain@gmail.com
Or, send a post to the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ NammaChennaiNamakke
