Residents of Tambaram Sanatorium have appealed to the Kancheepuram district Collectorate to construct a park at a space under Tambaram flyover, which is maintained by the State Highways Department. They have also requested the State Highways Department to grant permission for the same.
Jayanthi P. Vinayagamoorthy, member, Sri Ram Colony Residents Welfare Association, says, “As there are no parks in the vicinity, residents go to Gandhi Park in East Tambaram or Muthurangam Park in West Tambaram. Both the parks are located at a distance from the locality. Residents are forced to walk down the busy Chitlapakkam Second Main Road for their morning and evening walks. The road provides easy access to East Tambaram, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chitlapakkam and Hasthinapuram. Motorists drive through the stretch at a break-neck speed, posing a threat to the safety of walkers. If a park is constructed under the spacious flyover, along with a walkers’ track, the facility will benefit residents.”
Now, the space under the flyover is used as a dumping ground and an open toilet. At night, the place acts as an open bar for tipplers and anti-social elements roam about the place. Alternatively, a few residents have suggested the creation of a parking lot under the flyover. If steps are taken to create a parking lot, bus- as well as train commuters from Hasthinapuram, Chitlapakkam, East Tambaram and Tambaram Sanatorium will benefit a lot.
“Creation of a parking lot will generate revenue for the State Highways Department. A good number of scooters and cycles can be parked under the flyover. At present, many commuters park their vehicles on the carriageway and on the pavements on Chitlapakkam Second Main Road, hindering free flow of traffic.