Installations

In the last couple of years the Corporation seems to have stepped up its efforts to beautify the city. There have been some bad decisions, but I don't think that this is one of them. These sculptures, by students of the government college of fine arts, now decorate various intersections in the city. I wouldn't say that I love them, but at least they have a connection to the local culture and aren't loud or garish.

The one on top is located near the gate of Loyola College (thanks to Ranjani for the picture), and the one on the left is at the Gemini Flyover. It's not such a great photo, but I had to put it up after all the trouble it caused me - I nearly had my camera confiscated by the guards at the U.S. embassy. Apparently there's no photography allowed in the vicinity. I wonder how they enforce that!

There are a few more of these sculptures in the Nungumbakkam area, but I can't recall any others. Do you know if there are any? What do you think of them? Please leave your comments or email me at childofchennai@gmail.com .

Horns and High beams

Sometimes I feel like there is far more hope of getting the authorities to hand us a beautiful city on a platter, than there is of getting our people to behave in a civilized and courteous manner. Why is it that most Indians use the horn so much while driving? If they were standing in a queue, would they shove people about and yell 'GET OUT OF MY WAY!' ? No. So why do it while driving? I simply cannot understand it. What sense does it make to press your hand to the horn as soon as the lights turn green? Would everybody else just forget to move, if you didn't? It defies all logic.

I wish the solution were as simple as making honking a punishable offence. But the horn is an essential part of driving in India. You do need to use it to alert people to your presence (especially considering that no one uses their rear view mirrors). But for this, a gentle tap or two should suffice - there's no need to get carried away. And I wish I could say that I never use my horn in annoyance, but unfortunately I too, am often guilty of that crime. Honestly, driving in Chennai would try the patience of a saint. But I am trying to make an effort to change. 'Keep calm... and carry on' .

Unlike horns, driving at night with your headlights on high beam is completely uncalled for - at least within the city. The streetlights and headlights of other vehicles provide more than adequate light to see by. Dazzling headlights are not just annoying, they're dangerous. The only situation where it is okay to use your high beam, is when you're on a dark road at night and there are no other vehicles within 500 ft in front of you (travelling in either direction). If there is a vehicle coming towards you, it is courtesy to dip your lights until they have passed by. And it goes without saying that flashing your lights repeatedly to tell other vehicles to 'stay out of your way' is just plain rude. In fact, in many other countries, a quick flash of lights indicates that they will wait and let you go by. An extremely courteous gesture.

I guess it's obvious that this issue really bothers me. What I cannot see is how to get this message across to all the people out there. How about sending sms's to everyone's mobile phones? How about including traffic education in schools? What do you think? I would love to hear your ideas. Please leave a comment or email me at childofchennai@gmail.com .

Monday moanings

Following on from last Monday's moan about pavements, today I'm going to shift my gaze to the roads. I don't need to describe the state of the roads to anyone who lives in Chennai. We all deal with the potholes like professional rally drivers. I'm so familiar with the ones down my street, that I can navigate them even when they're hidden beneath flooded roads.

But aside from the inconvenience of a bumpy ride, potholes are also very dangerous. Vehicles - especially bikes and autos - swerve to avoid them without thinking; and in doing so put themselves at risk of being hit by a vehicle coming up from behind. The state of the roads also make it impossible to contemplate ever having any sort of lane discipline. How can you stay in the left lane when it usually is a mess of potholes and raised manhole covers (not to mention encroachments and pedestrians).

Year after year we have the same complaints. As soon as the roads are laid, they get dug up for the metro water pipes, the electricity lines or for laying cables. And then, if you're lucky, they get patched up - really badly. Even a child could tell you that this is the wrong sequence. So why can't we get it right? - Because it takes coordination. It needs people to talk to each other and agree on a plan of action. It needs one supervising authority that can see the whole picture. And plan for the future - not just for today.

I came across some encouraging news that the corporation is constructing 'model' pavements on L.B. road in Adyar. They're removing encroachments, moving junction boxes and creating a landscaped 'safe zone' between the pedestrians and the traffic. Sounds wonderful - I can't wait to see how it turns out! But while thinking about it, I suddenly wondered if it was possible to shift some utilities from under the roads to under the pavements. That would make it easy to create maintenance hatches, so that the roads do not have to be dug up every time. (And while they're repairing the pavements, they should also lay stormwater drains, which seem to be sadly lacking in our city.)

Am I being naive, or is it something that could work. Do you have any ideas to improve the state of our roads? I was pleased to find that the Corporation of Chennai has an impressive website. It looks like they even have a suggestion 'box'. Maybe if we came up with some good ideas, we could send them in. What do you think? Please leave your comments or email me at childof chennai@gmail.com .

East Coast Elevated Expressway

Are all these new flyovers and elevated expressways really the solution to Chennai's traffic problems? I am filled with apprehension at the thought of what their construction will cost the city. But of all the proposals, the one along the coast fills me with the most dread. For here it is not just the lives of the fisherfolk, but also the survival of a very fragile ecosystem that hangs in the balance.

The proposed expressway will cut across the Adyar estuary and the Theosophical Society grounds, run along the Besant Nagar beach and then along the shoreline, up to Kottivakkam- displacing nearly 14 fishing villages along the way and doing incalculable damage to the local ecosystem. The Adyar creek, a protected area that has migratory birds and mangroves will badly affected. It will also permanently destroy the nesting grounds of the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles.

I am firmly of the opinion that their money would be better spent on improving roads and public transport, educating motorists and enforcing rules, and working steadily towards reducing the number of vehicles on Chennai's roads.

I am probably a bit behind the times on this, because I can't seem to find any recent information on the status of the project, but I will post updates if I come across any. Please leave a comment or send me an email at childofchennai@gmail.com, if you have any information.

In the meantime, I found this petition to stop the expressway being built. I'm not sure how old it is, but it's not going to do any harm to sign it. They were looking for 10,000 signatures but have only around a 1000. I think that's really sad. What it needs is people to spread the word. So send a message to everyone you know and ask them to sign the petition here. You can also join ROB - to help Reclaim Our Beaches.

An inspiration to us all

Mrs. Kamakshi Subramaniyan is one amazing person. At the age of 82 she has achieved what most people would consider impossible. She has almost single handedly coaxed, cajoled and almost bullied corporation officials into converting the neglected and overgrown 4th Avenue in Besant Nagar, into a clean, beautiful road with a lush garden running along its entire length.

It has been a project that has lasted over 8 years - with many difficulties and setbacks. Three times the corporation planted trees, but then left them to die -unattended. Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands, and now makes it a point to ring them twice or thrice every morning - to remind them to send someone to water the plants! It has proved to be a very effective strategy and the results are there for all to see.

In fact, the telephone seems to be her weapon of choice - and she wields it well. She has a little board above hers, filled with the names and numbers of everyone from officials, to journalists, to NGO's- and she knows exactly who to call to get things done.

But it is a constant struggle to keep it well maintained. She despairs that even educated people destroy the plants while trying to pluck flowers - or even relieve themselves by the side of the road. "At my age, I don't have the time for shyness" she says, " I just wait until they are done and then go up to them and point out that it is an extremely uncivilized thing to do" !

This dynamic lady is passionate about a wide range of issues- from tree planting, to making pavements more senior citizen friendly, to getting autos to charge by the meter. She is eager to see more youngsters take an interest in these issues, and, citing herself as an example, believes that senior citizens can contribute tremendously. As she says " All it takes is a telephone and a bit of a thick skin". :)

And today, on her recommendation, please take a minute to check out Nizhal - an organisation that speaks for the trees of Chennai. They conduct several greening initiatives and educational programs, and would welcome new volunteers if you have the time to spare. Or else, why not join them on one of their regularly organised 'tree walks' to discover the green side of the city.

Hope

Time for something positive. Do you remember this?

Yes, all those massive, ugly hoardings that used to be an inescapable part of Chennai's landscape. I still remember coming back from a trip abroad, to be greeted by the sight of a hoarding-free city. The change was amazing! The euphoria I felt cannot be described- and I'm sure that all of you felt the same.

I know that this was a while ago, but it is a reminder that change is possible. I want to remember this every time I look around me and feel dispirited. And if I forget - please remind me.

There. Is. Hope.

Speaking of hopes, one of mine was to connect with like minded people. And I was thrilled when one of my very first comments was from someone who has a group on facebook called- 'It's Madras, not Chennai' They seem to have already gained quite a bit of momentum with over 1000 members. Lots of interesting posts and discussions - so be sure to check it out. Especially their link to The Hindu's article on renaming roads in Chennai.

Driving me crazy....

The traffic in Chennai is one thing that really gets my blood boiling. It's a topic that I could go on and on about. But as difficult as it may be, I'm going to try to restrict my rants about traffic to no more than once a week. And, instead of lamenting about the state of things, I've decided to put them in the form of driving 'tips'. Who knows, maybe someday they can all be compiled into a little book and made compulsory reading in schools ;) ... so feel free to let me know if you have anything to add.

Starting with the very basic concept of COURTESY. For ultimately that's what good driving boils down to. Every move you make on the road must be made with the comfort of your fellow road users in mind. Anything you do that causes them annoyance or stress, or causes them to have to suddenly brake or swerve - is nothing but rudeness on your part.

And what if you're on the receiving end of this rudeness? As tempting as it is to get annoyed and try to 'get even', I'm afraid the only right thing to do is to take a deep breath .... and let it go. (well okay, maybe you can swear a bit - under your breath). Because if you do anything else, like try to slow them down or cut them off or keep your hand pressed to the horn, that makes you the rude one. It's not worth it. You're better than that. Just let them go (..... jerks )

And remember - driving is not a race. The point of it is to arrive at your destination safely - not to overtake the vehicle in front of you, or accelerate wildly to avoid catching a red light. Stay calm. Enjoy the journey.

I hope I don't sound too preachy. I know it is quite likely that you already know all of this and don't really need me to tell you. If you're already a courteous driver, kudos to you. But maybe you know someone who should read this - your driver, your staff, your friend, your friend's driver....? Maybe you can help get the message out there. Circulate it among your staff, email it to your friends, translate it for the drivers - spread the word.

Next week - Horns and high beams.

Pavements

There's probably no other country in the world that gives less importance to pedestrians, than ours. Pavements must be one of the most neglected parts of Chennai's roads, when they really should be given the highest priority. We all know the state that they're in - where they do exist at all, they're extremely narrow, uneven with gaping holes, blocked by hawkers, transformers, junction boxes, construction debris, garbage and God knows what else.

These pictures taken on T.T.K road (early on Sunday morning to avoid the traffic) are just an example of the state of our pavements. I'm sure you have encountered far worse elsewhere.

Not surprisingly, most people choose to walk on the road rather than navigate the pavements. Can you imagine walking down this road in peak traffic? I hate to say this, but the truth is I would prefer to use my car - even for a short distance. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. As for the people who have no choice but to walk - my heart goes out to them. Surely they deserve better. Surely we all deserve better. With better pavements and roads I'm sure more people would take to walking and cycling - at least for short distances.

I feel that having good pavements is non negotiable. They are meant to make pedestrians lives easier, keeping them out of harm's way and also giving the traffic a clear road to drive on. But the government doesn't seem to care. There's a new flyover planned almost everyday but not one thought is given to improving the condition of the pavements. And meanwhile, the papers are filled with stories of pedestrians being hit and killed by buses or lorries. I'm sure if they had to cover those who were simply hit by cars or bikes and had 'only' broken bones, it would fill many, many pages.

And yet, there does seem to be hope. Not a hundred yards away from T.T.K road, in C.I.T colony, it appears that someone has taken the initiative to do something about the situation. Neatly laid pavements with sloped ends that make getting on and off easier. They are probably a bit narrow and so end up being blocked by trees or junction boxes, but hey, at least its a start. Hats off to them. If it can be done here, then why not elsewhere?

Does anyone know how they achieved this? Do you have any ideas on how to make this happen in other parts of the city? Can we come up with a set of standards for pavement design? Please leave your comments or email me at childofchennai@gmail.com

Changing road names

I'm not sure why the thought of the 50 odd road names being changed to commemorate Tamil scholars, distresses me so much. I'm not knowledgeable about the origin of their present names or which europeans they commemorate. What I do know is that these are the roads we grew up on. Harrington road, Sterling road, Taylor's road - each name evokes images and memories. I don't see how I will ever learn to call them anything else. It was hard enough to switch to saying 'Chennai'. I wonder if we, the people, will ever get a say - when decisions like this are made for us.

But setting emotions aside, how practical is this decision? Has it really been thought through or is it just the euphoria of people saying 'what a wonderful way to celebrate the World Classical Tamil Conference' ? What does it mean to the people who live and work on these roads? A change of business cards and letterheads at the very least. What about driving licenses, passports and a whole lot of other important documents - do they have to be changed as well? Will there be a cut-off date for these changes to be made? Remember the havoc that the re-numbering caused? Even now most addresses state 'new no. / old no.' . Will we have to start stating 'new road name / old road name' ? I shudder to imagine it!

What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you live/ work on a road whose name was changed (Avvai Shanmugam Road / Lloyds Road, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Road / Chamier's Road) ? Has it affected you at all? Please leave your comments or email me at childofchennai@gmail.com .

Getting started

What am I doing starting a blog?! I'm no writer. I know nothing about blogging. And I'm usually a very quiet, private person who keeps my opinions to myself. BUT ...

Chennai makes me want to scream!

The roads, the traffic, the filth, the pollution and most of all- people's attitudes. Don't get me wrong - I love Chennai. It's my home. But I would like my home to be clean and beautiful and orderly. An environment in which I would be happy to bring up my children. But right now, it is a far cry from that utopia.

I don't expect this blog to change the world. But I dare to hope that it can be a catalyst for change. I know that there are people out there trying to make a difference. My goal is to connect them,to create a forum for discussion, to build a community of like minded people, and hopefully eventually reach those who do have the power to make a difference.

Do you know of others who are trying to make a difference? Do you have ideas for future posts? What bothers you about chennai? What do you love most about it? Please leave your comments or email me at childofchennai@gmail.com

And I'm completely new to this 'e' world of blogging and social networking - so any tips or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks :)