There is a lot we can do about the core of Mylapore.
And when Navarathri unfolds, I go into a tizzy!
It is the time when an idea keeps running through my mind like a crazy worm.
Why don’t we declare the three mada veedhis and their sister lanes WALK ONLY zones?
These veedhis come alive at festival time.
They turn into a fascinating space.
Dolls, flowers, beads, bangles, handicrafts . . .these and more bring alive these veedhis and create a throbbing life that is core to this city.
But madness rules the streets.
Everybody who drives to this place in a car wants to honk, honk and honk to find a parking space.
Every car driver wants to head straight to the destination that is important to him and his family.
Is this not the time to leave our cars and bikes some place away and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the veedhis?
There is a lot we can do about the core of Mylapore.
And when Navarathri unfolds, I go into a tizzy!
It is the time when an idea keeps running through my mind like a crazy worm.
Why don’t we declare the three mada veedhis and their sister lanes WALK ONLY zones?
These veedhis come alive at festival time.
They turn into a fascinating space.
Dolls, flowers, beads, bangles, handicrafts . . .these and more bring alive these veedhis and create a throbbing life that is core to this city.
But madness rules the streets.
Everybody who drives to this place in a car wants to honk, honk and honk to find a parking space.
Every car driver wants to head straight to the destination that is important to him and his family.
Is this not the time to leave our cars and bikes some place away and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the veedhis?
This is a heritage precinct and it must be accorded Grade A status by the city’s planning authority.
And we must get the Mayor and the Head of the Chennai City Traffic Police to support creative ideas that preserve the status of this zone. ( We have a Mayor who now wants to offer cycles on hire to visitors at Marina Beach. So I am sure he will nod for a ‘WALK ONLY’ zone even if it is operative for a few hours every day)
Yes, we also need to have all the residents and businessmen and shop keepers of the zone to sit together and agree to a ‘midway’ solution. Yes, we do want customers to flood the local showrooms but can we ask them not to drive their cars into the dolls set up by a poor hawker from Kosapet?
Yes, it is still warm and sticky but can we coax ourselves to enjoy a nice walk down the veedhis?
And we must get the Mayor and the Head of the Chennai City Traffic Police to support creative ideas that preserve the status of this zone. ( We have a Mayor who now wants to offer cycles on hire to visitors at Marina Beach. So I am sure he will nod for a ‘WALK ONLY’ zone even if it is operative for a few hours every day)
Yes, we also need to have all the residents and businessmen and shop keepers of the zone to sit together and agree to a ‘midway’ solution. Yes, we do want customers to flood the local showrooms but can we ask them not to drive their cars into the dolls set up by a poor hawker from Kosapet?
Yes, it is still warm and sticky but can we coax ourselves to enjoy a nice walk down the veedhis?
3 comments:
It would be nice, if they made it into a heritage zone and maintain the uniqeness of this place.
very true Vincent. Its high time something was done. When I was living for a short period in Mada street, I found public meetings held very often in street corners with mikes blaring and roads blocked, even entry to our house with our bikes was difficult and resulted in unplesant arguments with the police posted there.
I agree with the idea of a walk only zone. I have travelled to several european cities that have provided a similar walk only zone -(Which the weather also permits)
I like the street vendors, petromax lamps, kili josiyam (Parrot soothsayers) - in fact i got some beautiful pictures that i enjoyed in last theppam (float festival)
Mylapore float festival 2011 was awesome
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