An initiative meant to promote greenery and pedestrian safety in Chennai has deteriorated into a public nuisance, highlighting a severe lack of maintenance and civic responsibility. The 800-meter footpath outside the Kotturpuram Urban Forest, originally laid in 2017 with shrubs and saplings, now presents an eyesore filled with liquor bottles, debris, and parked vehicles.
From Green Corridor to Garbage Dump
The footpath's current state is a far cry from its intended purpose. During a recent visit, reports confirmed the stretch was littered with discarded liquor bottles, food waste, and construction debris. Overgrown shrubs, initially planted to enhance the pathway, now provide cover for illicit activities. Cars and heavy vehicles are routinely parked in blatant violation of no-parking signs, further obstructing pedestrians.
Resident Sreehari pointed out that most tipplers arrive late at night, park their vehicles, consume alcohol, and casually discard the bottles. The lack of adequate lighting in the area exacerbates the problem, offering these individuals a shield from police surveillance. The situation has become so routine that sanitary workers report clearing up to twenty liquor bottles from the stretch on some days, with people even throwing bottles directly from their car windows.
Root Causes and Resident Frustration
The core issue, according to local residents' associations, stems from unregulated parking by non-residents. Rajagopal, an executive member of the Kottur Gardens Residents Association, emphasized that mere signboards are ineffective. "There has to be stricter enforcement of rules," he stated, underscoring the community's demand for concrete action from authorities.
The nuisance extends beyond littering. Pedestrians have reported people stopping midway to urinate on walls opposite the park, adding to the overall degradation of public space and hygiene. This collective disregard for civic norms has transformed a community asset into a zone of discomfort and neglect.
Official Responses and Promises of Action
When confronted with the situation, law enforcement acknowledged the problem. Kotturpuram Inspector of Police (Law and Order) Ramasundram admitted that the area does attract tipplers after dark, though he denied any major criminal instances. He assured that a police booth is stationed at the lane's end and that traffic police conduct regular patrols, promising a tighter vigil to clamp down on the drinkers.
On the civic front, Adyar Zonal Officer S Senthil Kumaran responded proactively. He committed to ensuring that the accumulated debris and bottles would be cleared by the night of the report or on Monday at the latest. Furthermore, he pledged to instruct municipal officials to maintain the premises clean on a sustained basis, offering a glimmer of hope for the pathway's restoration.
The fate of the Kotturpuram footpath now hinges on whether these promises of enforcement and regular upkeep translate into visible, long-term change, restoring the space to its original vision of a green, safe walkway for Chennai's citizens.
