Residents flag restricted of entry, poor maintenance of Mint Park

Residents in Chennai complain about restricted park access, poor maintenance, and reduced hours, prompting intervention from the city council.

Residents have complained that a few city parks have started restricting residents, opening for fewer hours than the time approved by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council.

Access to parks has been restricted for local residents. The maintenance of the facility is poor and the equipment damaged, residents said.

Mint Park of Ward 53 in north Chennai has been open for nine hours a day instead of the GCC approved 16 hours. Parks of Chennai Corporation are generally open between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. When this reporter visited the park at 3 p.m., the facility was closed. A notice board announced the reduced timings — 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m — violating the Corporation Council resolution. 

A representative of Eco Green Foundation that maintains the park said it was closed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because of the menace of drug addicts.

M. Ramesh, resident of Padavattamman Koil Street, said the park was not maintained properly. 

Ward 53 councillor P. Velanganni said the NGO — that had been permitted by the GCC to adopt the Mint Park — stopped her from visiting the facility after she complained about its poor maintenance. “Residents want better facilities for walking and recreation,” she said.

Residents also complain that visitors have been asked to pay money for using the toilets and to park their vehicles at the park.