In Chennai’s affluent lanes, pavements are eaten up by cars, ramps and debris

A pedestrian walking through 5th Cross Street in Shastri Nagar, an upscale neighbourhood in south Chennai, would find the going hard. Out of 20 buildings TNM surveyed, 10 had ramps encroaching on the pavement, and eight had cars parked on them. Debris was found dumped in three places, and in two spots, residents had set up gardens which blocked pedestrian movement.

Most pavement encroachments in the city are from illegal parking of vehicles and pushcarts, dumped debris and buildings with ramps jutting into streets. For the pushcarts and small vendors, outrage and action are plenty. But for encroachments by builders and vehicles in the upscale neighbourhoods, outrage or even awareness is almost nil.

M Radhika, the local corporation councillor, however, said the issue is not serious in his