If you thought the car-free Sundays are restricted to Besant Nagar, think again. Last Sunday, Mylapore had its very own car-free Sunday. On the streets leading to the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, vehicles were not allowed. Devotees had to walk park their vehicles elsewhere and walk to the temple. It was Pradosham, a bimonthly event when the temple gets over 3000 visitors for the special pujas. For now on, there will be restriction on vehicular movement every Pradosham.
The step was taken by the Mylapore Depty Commissioner’s office, following requests foor the same by residents of the neighbourhood. “Around 400 vehicles are parked on the narrow streets leading to the temple and in front of the main entrance on the day of Pradosham. The area was witnessing traffic congestion because of this. Based on the request, we decided to bar vehicles from being parked near the temple,” says Balakrishnan, DC, Mylapore.
While the Mada Streets are open to traffic, vehicles will not be allowed on the narrow lanes such as East Tank Road, Sannidhi Street, Kumaragurunathan Street. Sai Ganesh, a regular to the temple, says he was happy that the restrictions were imposed on Pradosham. “It is difficult for devotees to walk down to the temple on the day as bikes are parked on all streets leading to the temple. This time, we could walk to the temple freely. I hope the practice continues on all important temple festival days.”
As vehicles were parked on the Mada Streets, road-side shops were also regulated. “Around 30 personnel and 15 volunteers manned the four entrances of the temple,” Mr. Balakrishnan says.
