For residents of Chennai's Besant Nagar, a crucial pathway to the Elliot's Beach has transformed into an eyesore and a hub of illegal activity. The 8th Cross Street, which serves as a key access road, has been in a state of severe neglect for several years, littered with abandoned vehicles, liquor bottles, and discarded furniture.
A Street of Neglect and Illegal Dumping
Locals describe the area as an unofficial dumpyard that has progressively worsened over the past five years. The situation is so dire that many people now avoid using this important beach access route altogether. Kamal, a resident of 3rd Avenue, voiced the community's frustration, stating that the spot has become a haven for nighttime drinking and indiscriminate waste disposal.
During a recent visit to the site, the extent of the problem was visibly clear. Two men were found consuming alcohol in broad daylight near an old, abandoned car. The roadside is cluttered with multiple seized vehicles pushed to one side, while the opposite side hosts a shed under which old furniture is piled. Ironically, liquor bottles were found scattered near a warning board installed by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) against dumping waste.
Administrative Lapses and Jurisdictional Issues
The inaction appears systemic. A GCC worker on site revealed that while they clean the entrance and exit points, they do not venture into the street itself. He added that their superiors do not question them if the area is left unattended. Residents trace the origin of the problem to about five years ago when police began dumping seized vehicles there.
Ward 174 assistant engineer Senthil Nathan provided some context, explaining that the shed was originally intended to be a material recovery facility—a closed and locked space. However, the frequent dumping of old furniture has prevented this conversion. He assured that steps would be taken to clean the premises soon but highlighted a key jurisdictional hurdle: the seized vehicles do not fall under the GCC's purview.
Promises of Action Amidst Silence
While police officials were unavailable for comment on the dumped vehicles, there seems to be some movement on the sanitation front. Sanitary inspector K Shakthi confirmed that he has received instructions to clean the area and promised that the work would be expedited soon.
The state of Besant Nagar's 8th Cross Street underscores a larger issue of civic neglect and bureaucratic passing of the buck. It remains to be seen whether the promised cleanup will restore this vital beach access road for the residents of Chennai or if it will continue to languish as a symbol of urban decay.
