Lack of parking space at commercial complexes is a noticeable problem on Ethiraj Salai, Egmore. It’s a problem that spills on to the roads and pavements.
The eight-storey Shivalaya Building, one of the first buildings to come up on the stretch, has over 100 offices and over 60 residential flats. Finding space to park a four-wheeler is difficult even for those who own a shop or office at the complex.
“I am helpless. We do not have the space nor can we make any further provisions in the building to accommodate more vehicles,” says Biharilal K. Ahuja, secretary of Shivalaya.
The promoters of the building practise the system of drawing lots to allocate parking space but not every one is lucky enough to find a space.
G. Shankar, who has an office at the building, leaves his car on the road, a few furlongs away from Shivalaya.
“Although I have a parking space for six months, I am forced to leave it on the road as the restaurant occupying the building needs my space,” says Shankar, a resident from Perambur.
Besides Sangeetha restaurant, the building has a few eatouts, a boutique, a men’s showroom and a pan shop in the basement that draw quite a number of customers.
“My owner comes by car only if she has to bring new stock of material,” says a staff working at a boutique.
On weekends, the stretch is chaotic. Vehicles of customers that come to the restaurant are parked on the road, taking up half a kilometre of the stretch, say pedestrians.
Wellington Estate, another commercial complex on the stretch, is better off. It can accommodate around 45 four-wheelers but sometimes vehicles are parked on the road. Land Rover showroom, TN Telecom office, Presidency Club and post office are a few other establishments located on the stretch.
The arterial road connects motorists heading to College Road and Egmore, and is also a bus route road. Although a ‘No parking board’ is kept near the Telecom Office, the row of vehicles parked on the stretch is makes it clear that motorists care little.
