Vehicles screamed through the streets of Besant Nagar one evening. T.S. Swaminathan, a retired IAS officer, who was on his way to a temple near the bus depot, waited at a busy junction for traffic to pass. When it didn’t, he decided to brave the road — it turned out to be a nightmarish experience, with cars honking indignantly at him and bikers swishing past inches from him. If only there were pavements. “If an old man has to go somewhere, he has no choice but to walk on the main road,” says Swaminathan.
“Pavements are vanishing all over the city as roads are being widened. But the problem is acute in Besant Nagar,” feels V. Chandrasekhar, Honorary President, Senior Citizens Group of Besant Nagar (SCGOBN). The group consists of ten senior citizen volunteers who carry out social service activities in the area.
His wife, Vijayalakshmi, a 57-year-old school teacher, says, “Accidents involving senior citizens and children happen every day in the area.” The pavements on the main road, she adds, have been encroached upon and are occupied by vendors and vagrants. “We are not able to walk on the main road during the week, let alone weekends,” she says. Haphazard parking is adding to their woes.
“We have to hop, skip and jump when we are on the main road,” says Chandrasekhar, and points out that the two arterial roads, 3rd and 2nd main road, leading to Elliot’s beach, have no pavements. Pedestrians end up jostling with two and four-wheelers to walk to the beach, he says and adds, “Many of us have stopped going to the beach.”
Well-planned pavements are the only solution to the problem and the SCGOBN has started the Provide Pavements for Pedestrians Movement to sensitise the authorities concerned. Through the movement, the SCGOBN plans to create awareness about the need for pavements.
“We will hold talks in schools, colleges, and public forums,” explains Chandrasekhar, and adds that a signature campaign is also on the cards. “We plan to give signed petitions to the Corporation Commissioner and the Mayor and also meet the Chief Minister.”
As part of the campaign, the SCGOBN have called for volunteers to accompany them on a walk on the beach from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. every evening. The group also hopes to use social media to fight for their cause. Chandrasekhar knows that change cannot happen overnight. “But it will happen,” he smiles. “We may not have the energy, but have the knowledge and resources.”
For details on the movement, write to seniorcitizensofbesantnagar@gmail.com.
