Anna Nagar Residents Urge Parking Reforms Over Weekend Street Vendor Evictions
Residents in Anna Nagar are demanding long-term traffic solutions from the government, urging officials to address inadequate parking at major commercial complexes rather than temporarily evicting weekend street vendors. The severe bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion spans from St. Luke’s Church and the Blue Star signal up to the Thirumangalam junction, persisting from weekday mornings until after 10 p.m. on weekends.
Long-time residents have pointed to popular retail brands and commercial establishments as the primary cause of the gridlock. According to local residents, these commercial complexes lack sufficient parking spaces, leading security guards to direct customers to park their vehicles on the roadside, which heavily obstructs traffic flow.
S. Amarnath, a local resident, noted that pedestrian plazas are routinely occupied by two-wheelers belonging to shop staff and visitors from morning until around 9 p.m. on weekdays. While weekend traffic worsens with the addition of temporary roadside stalls, residents argue that targeting these vendors is not the solution.
Another resident, Hemalatha, stated that the government routinely removes small weekend stalls whenever complaints arise instead of pursuing long-term measures. She emphasized that the primary traffic issues are caused by larger commercial shops rather than the pushcarts.
Many of the weekend stalls are run by young entrepreneurs, including students, IAS aspirants funding their education, and single mothers selling homemade food. Residents have advocated for a regulated vending policy, designated spaces for weekend stalls, and organised paid parking similar to the system in Pondy Bazaar to allow livelihoods and public convenience to coexist.
Meanwhile, some residents near Anna Nagar Fifth Avenue and Anna Nagar Tower Park have raised concerns regarding the rising number of pushcarts, garbage accumulation, and dangerous stunt riding by youngsters on weekends.
A senior traffic police officer in charge of the zone stated that police are constantly monitoring the area, removing vehicles parked in unauthorised zones, and deploying barricades to curb rash driving at night.
