Motorists, pedestrians want liquor shops shifted

Winebibbers occupy the premises of the MRTS station. Photos: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Two TASMAC outlets at Canal Bank Road, Luz, seem to be a source of unending trouble for motorists and commuters taking the MRTS.

One of the outlets (No: 915) does not have a bar facility attached to it.

“It is a regular sight to see tipplers consuming liquor in the open. Even the shop owners do not bother to prevent drinking outside their shops. Adding to the problem, the shop sells snacks too. This happens throughout the day and goes on till late in the night,” N. Vivek, a motorist, said.

“There have been numerous instances of tipplers picking up a fight with innocent passers-by. This has become a routine affair,” A. Shanthi, a pedestrian, said.

Apart from this, the tipplers park their vehicles haphazardly on both sides of road affecting the free flow of vehicular traffic. The stretch provides access to the MRTS station, Buckingham Canal Bank Road, Alamelumangapuram, South Canal Bank Road, East Abhiramapuram, Dr. Ranga Road, Abhiramapuram, Subburayan Road and Justice Sundaram Road.

Vehicle users say they find it difficult to negotiate the stretch after sunset. “The tipplers stand in the way, obstructing vehicular traffic. We have to honk and shout at them for them to step aside. This has even led to arguments with drunkards, who use harsh words. Some of them could be seen lying there in an inebriated condition,” R. Senthil, a resident of Abhiramapuram, said.

The tipplers leave behind plastic sachets, bottles and food leftovers on the stretch. They also thrown them into the canal. Some also pass comments at women who are passing by. The shops are an inconvenience to the public, he added.

Empty bottles are also thrown on the steps of the MRTS.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials say they patrol the station and its premises at regular intervals. They say the only solution to the problem is to shift the wine shops.

“We remove one drunkard from the vicinity of the station and another takes his place. Sometime ago, some winebibbers rob others who were also in an inebriated condition,” they pointed out.