Debris, tipplers turn Rajiv Gandhi statue enclosure into an eyesore

Chennai: Mounds of construction debris and the parking of several seized vehicles near the Rajiv Gandhi statue enclosure at Saidapet has turned the area into an eyesore for locals. Residents and commuters say police began using the space to dump vehicles involved in offences in Highways department land. "Freeing up the area would have several benefits. People visiting St Thomas Church and the magistrate court can have a place to park their vehicles. Now, they park on the roadside near the signal, adding to traffic woes," said Anand Raja, an autorickshaw driver from a nearby stand.On Monday, several liquor bottles were found dumped near the enclosure. The space was barricaded on one end, preventing entry and exit to those coming from the Velachery side. "At first, police parked seized vehicles here. Then the Highways dept dumped construction debris. Now, the enclosure has turned into an open toilet while tipplers gather here at night," said K Ahmad, who operates a eatery nearby.A traffic police officer from Guindy said that several requests have been made to the Highways dept to free up the space. "We plan to create space for parking here. The major hindrance is the construction debris. No effort has been made to clear it," the officer said. Additional divisional engineer with the Highways dept (city roads) Singaravelan said that his department was not dumping debris."We have no idea about how the sand and debris came up here. If removing them and sprucing up the place has public benefit, we will take steps to do so," he added.
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