Residents of Chennai Beach and Mannady have made a request to the Greater Chennai Corporation to take steps to develop a park in a space near Royapuram flyover. The space belongs to Greater Chennai Corporation.
P. A. Raja, a long-time resident of Mannady, says, “There is no other park in the vicinity and the elevated park (‘Madi Poonga’) at George Town is closed.”
At the land below the flyover, a portion of the area is used for leaf litter compost, which is visible with the cement rings and bamboo fences.
The ground is used as an open trash yard and a dumping space for construction debris. In the evenings and mornings, youngsters from Beach Third and Fourth Lanes and Narayana Sarang Garden Street use the ground to play cricket and volleyball. After sunset, the ground becomes a place for tipplers to consume liquor. The plot is also poorly lit.
A walking track, a volleyball court, children’s play equipment and an open gym can be facilitated. We have been taking up the issue with the authorities concerned and the elected representatives for years, but no action has been taken till date, say residents
A GCC official said a proposal has been sent in this regard to the authorities at the Ripon Building. Once funds are allocated, steps will be taken to clean the ground and develop a park. A space will also be earmarked for volleyball court as many youngsters come and play volleyball in the ground, the official added.