Chennai: Lock, damaged equipment greet visitors at OMR public play space

By Christopher Miltus
CHENNAI: The forest and public play space created between Madhya Kailash and Tidel Park along the Buckingham canal are idling due to non-maintenance and poor quality of equipment.
A part of the area, created at ₹20 crore and awaiting formal inauguration, has been given to a private martial arts group for regular use, while the longer stretch, between Indira Nagar and Tiruvanmiyur MRTS stations, was locked after play equipment broke.
Corporation officials, however, blamed ‘rough use’ by children. “Multiple children used the equipment at the same time,” said Sarath Babu S, site engineer.

Regular visitors dispute the claim. “The equipment was substandard and weak,” said R Nizam, 43, a vendor and local resident. The park was open till April 23.

Sarat Babu said the park and play area would be inaugurated before May 15.

Most of the work is completed for Reach 1 (from Kasturba Nagar to Indira Nagar) and Reach 2 (from Indira Nagar to Thiruvanmiyur MRTS stations), he said, adding that the inauguration was delayed due to maintenance and repairs.
Babu, site engineer (special projects), said transgender people were using the place for illegal activities and others were vandalizing the equipment.