Kasturba Nagar residents petition for closure of Canal Bank Road Tasmac outlet

Residents of Kasturba Nagar on Canal Bank Road in the Adyar Zone of Chennai are petitioning the State government to close a local Tasmac liquor outlet. The Adyar Kasturba Nagar-South Residents’ Welfare Association (AKNS RWA) recently submitted a representation to Velachery MLA R. Kumar, citing severe public nuisance, safety hazards, and the harassment of women and elderly residents by intoxicated men.

According to the association, the liquor shop is located within 50 metres of the Kasturba Nagar MRTS station and within 500 metres of both the Madhya Kailash temple and Kalvari Church. Railway authorities have also previously objected to the location of the shop.

Residents report that the presence of the outlet has compromised safety in the neighbourhood, particularly after 6 p.m. Women and young girls frequently face catcalling and harassment. Mr. Sekar, a local resident living opposite the outlet, stated that visitors to his apartment complex have been threatened by drunk men on multiple occasions. He also alleged that vehicles have been damaged and tyres punctured by tipplers loitering in the area.

The safety concerns have restricted the movement of vulnerable residents. A 70-year-old woman living on the street rarely ventures out alone due to fears of intimidation and theft, relying on neighbours and AKNS RWA members to assist her with daily errands. In one instance, residents had to intervene to help a woman who cried out when an intoxicated man allegedly tried to harass her.

The petition highlights that customers frequently consume liquor on the roadside and park their vehicles along Canal Bank Road, causing significant traffic congestion. Drunken individuals are often found lying unconscious near residential entrances, parking ramps, and the MRTS station. Due to these disturbances, residents are frequently forced to take alternative internal roads, such as Kasturba Nagar Second Main Road and Third Cross Street, for their daily travel.

While the State government ordered the closure of more than 700 Tasmac shops last month, this particular outlet was not included in that list. Residents are urging authorities to take immediate action to address the issue and close the shop to restore safety to the locality.