Race course stalls encroachments
Stalls near the walkers’ path at Race Course in the city.Mayor R. Venkatachalam has appealed to District Collector Neeraj Mittal for measures to prohibit stalls selling food items from doing business along the walkers’ path on Race Course Road.The 2.5 km circular path is used by various sections of the public for a brisk walk to improve their health.But, the stalls are a hindrance as people buy food items, sit along the walking track and stretch their legs into it. This trips people over, the Mayor said. “People walk fast and may not be able to check their pace when a leg is suddenly stretched out. A couple of such recent instances were brought to my notice,” he said. The Mayor referred to the children’s park area near the Scheme Road-Race Course Road junction as the spot that was very congested.He said that the walkers’ path should be more of an area for exercise and not recreation.The Mayor said residents on this road raised gardens on Corporation lands in front of their houses. This was only encroachment in the name of promoting greenery and it reduced road space.In a letter to the Collector, he said eateries were coming up on the road and this was turning a calm area into a commercial one.The Mayor said a copy of the letter had also been addressed to City Police Commissioner C.K. Gandhirajan, requesting steps from the police to preserve the identity of Race Course as a place for health-related activity and not as a spot for night stalls selling pani puri and other chat items to do brisk business.
