Irregular locking of a small steel gate on Thiru Vi Kaa bridge by officials of Greater Chennai Corporation, which maintains the facility, is cited as one of reasons for the misuse of this section of the Adyar river.
The open gate enables miscreants to roam around the river area. It also makes it convenient for some people to dispose of trash along the river bund.
Due to its dilapidated condition, the old bridge, which runs adjacent to the new bridge, has been made off-limits for motorists. To prevent trespassing, Corporation officials have closed both sides of the old bridge with brick walls and also installed a steel gate, which is meant to opened only for authorised people.
However, one end of the old bridge can be easily accessed through the gate on the new bridge.
“Gaining entry to the river bund through the gate, many motorists and walkers use the stretch as a public conveniance. Moreover, some people engage in risky behaviour by climbing on to the dilapidated staircase of the old bridge for reasons better known to them,” says S. Vishnuvardhan, a resident of Adyar.
The bund of the river, along the new bridge, is strewn with garbage, which includes plastic waste and construction debris. Miscreants roam around the area due to poor illumination on the river bank. The new bridge has toilets only at one end, that is near Theosophical Society of India, mainly to help shopkeepers. For people who come from R.A. Puram direction, there are toilet facilities. Corporation officials say this arrangement is aimed at preventing miscreants from entering the waterbody.
“The move prevents strangers from loitering near the Women’s College and a bus stop near the new bridge where most of the women students from the college board buses,” the official added. As a result, commuters on the bridge from R.A. Puram direction make use of the open gate to gain access to the Adyar river. As the gate is open throughout the day, it poses a threat to students of the college and women commuters at the nearby bus stop. Moreover, police patrol vehicles can be seen only at the intersection of the petrol pump and the music college in R.A. Puram, at a distance of around 200 metres from the new bridge. “Steps will be taken to lock the gate permanently,” says a Corporation official.
