Manjula, a resident of Guindy, mentioned that when she travelled to T. Nagar for purchasing, she was not conscious of the multi-level automotive parking (MLCP) facility and ended up parking on the highway, as there’s a lack of knowledge about such services amongst folks exterior T. Nagar.
There aren’t any MLCP services in key areas like Parrys or Purasaiwalkam, and slim lanes are sometimes occupied principally by parked automobiles, which elevated after GCC made on-street parking briefly free, she mentioned. “Even a small lane resembling Vandikaran or Senjiamman Koil Street in Maduvankarai, Velachery, is crammed with parked automobiles. One has to roam a minimum of a kilometre to discover a protected parking house, and that can even be on the road. Neither the police nor the Chennai Corporation have paid consideration to this difficulty regardless of repeated complaints,” she mentioned.
Arjun, a resident of T. Nagar, mentioned that the MLCP, which had been non-operational for a lot of months, started functioning just a few days in the past, however was not properly marketed by the GCC. Since individuals are not conscious it’s open, many proceed to park on the streets, particularly within the inside lanes of Pondy Bazaar. “Only the floating inhabitants principally populates the principle roads. But it’s the smaller lanes which are extra affected. Traffic normally diverts to those smaller roads to keep away from congestion on the principle highway. If the slim lanes grow to be narrower because of automobiles parked on the perimeters, commuters will discover it tough to navigate, and congestion will enhance as an alternative of lowering,” he added.
J. John, AIADMK councillor for Ward 84, said that on-street parking within the inside lanes is primarily utilized by center and low-income teams who can afford solely second-hand automobiles, however might not have parking house at their small residences. “Due to automobiles parked on the roadside, together with autorickshaws, the highway carriageway is lowered – for example, if the highway is 50 toes large, it might be lowered to 30 toes due to parked automobiles,” he mentioned.
“The commuters are affected by this. However, it must also be famous that many individuals are already burdened with taxes and different bills, so fining them could be an added monetary pressure. But, the police and the GCC can guarantee there are adequate parking areas for these folks,” he added.
A senior official within the police division said that the principle roads, significantly in industrial areas, are prioritised by the site visitors police to make sure minimal disruptions, and efforts are being made to determine spots within the inside lanes the place points come up because of roadside parking. Nanganallur and T. Nagar are among the many key areas the place the police are focusing their consideration, he mentioned.
Additionally, throughout festive seasons, the feasibility of integrating non permanent parking in open areas, resembling parks, is being explored to accommodate the parking wants of economic zone crowds. Ways to handle parking in residential areas are additionally being studied, the official added.
A senior authority with the State authorities talked about {that a} plan has been devised by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and the GCC. This plan contains the introduction of an app-based parking scheme, demand-based pricing, area-level administration plans, and different initiatives with technical assist from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) India. “The difficulty is especially problematic through the festive season. The GCC and police are the accountable physique and is working to enhance the state of affairs. A trial to implement the plans for regulating parking throughout town is ready to start quickly,” he mentioned.
Published – October 19, 2025 06:55 am IST
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