Questions about safety of shoppers in T. Nagar remain unanswered

Encroachments have eaten up the space on both sides of Usman Road. Photo: M. Karunakaran

Think Aadi, think shopping, think T. Nagar. While this shopping hub beckons people from far and wide, it fails to provide a safe environment for people to enjoy the experience. The T. Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association recently wrote to the Department of Fire and Rescue Services, the Chennai Corporation, and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) asking them to take appropriate action against establishments that don’t following safety norms.

While the Fire and Rescue Department stated that it did not have any power to take action against the errant, the other two agencies, namely Chennai Corporation and the CMDA, did not respond to the Association’s letter.

The kind of crowds the area draws during the Aadi season is the major cause for concern. The presence of hawkers adds to the worry.

In the event of an emergency, they will impede easy movement of people and rescue vehicles. In the case of an incident, it will be difficult for an ambulance to enter the streets. Despite being allotted space at the complex in Pondy Bazaar, the hawkers are yet to move in there.

The T. Nagar Residents Welfare Association also filed a PIL in the Madras High Court last year on the same.

The First Bench of the Madras High Court gave directions to the Director of Fire and Rescue Services Department, Tamil Nadu, to conduct an audit of the commercial buildings in T. Nagar, to ascertain whether and to what an extent, they have violated the fire safety laws.

The Fire and Rescue Services recently filed a counter-affidavit based on the physical inspection carried out by the department on January 24 and 25.

It found that the access road to these buildings in T. Nagar, especially on Usman Road and Ranganathan Street, were very narrow and measured 3.7 metres and 4.9 metres at the entrance of Usman Road on either side of the flyover, near Chennai Silks. The entrance width of Ranganathan Street is 5.6 m. This will make it difficult for any fire-fighting vehicle with Aerial Ladder platforms to enter the streets. .