Colony in Chennai finds a solutionto parking problem at intersections

Plastic road dividers sponsored by residents ensure vehicles are not parked haphazardly near the turns

Haphazard parking is a huge problem in cities, and is acutely felt at street ends that cut into main roads, because the junction is a convenient spot for food carts and autorickshaws as it gives them good visibility. Banks and other business establishments situated nearby without parking facilities also add to the parking problem. The length of a motorcycle is almost the width of a small car and that says everything, particularly when the street is only 35 to 40 feet wide. This was precisely the problem faced by residents of Seethamma Extension at Teynampet until about seven months ago when they had to drive into the main roads of the colony from KB Dasan Road or vice versa. Free flow of traffic was severely affected and it became more acute during college timings (there is a women’s college in the area). The residents had to complain to the police very frequently. The police responded very well every time and imposed a fine on the offender, and on one occasion, the collected fines exceeded ₹ 10,000. But this was only a temporary solution.