After its renovation in 2010, Panagal Park has been receiving a large number of health-conscious visitors. The numbers would be greater if provision for parking had been provided.
At present, it is a huge challenge for visitors to find parking around the park, especially motorcyclists.
People like Shankar, a resident of Vadapalani, walk in the park in the evening while getting back home from work. Though he keeps returning to the well-maintained facility every day, he complains about the time wasted in searching for parking space. “Before the peaceful walk, I go through so much tension wondering where to leave my bike safely. Most spaces around shopping zones in T. Nagar are tow areas. The designated parking space on both sides of the park is always packed with cars,” he says.
One side of the parking space is always taken over by vehicles of travel agencies; the other side is packed with cars of shoppers. Bikers are forced to leave their vehicles in awkward spaces between cars. Many also leave their vehicles in front of the entrance, restricting easy entry to the park.“Two-wheelers should not be allowed to park right outside the entrance of the park. Getting in and out becomes very difficult,” says Rengarajan, a walker.Though there might be some respite for both shoppers and visitors to the park if the proposed multi-level parking comes up near the premises, many feel it will rob the charm of the park.
