Citizen Connect: Uncleared garbage, cattle and encroachment make travel on Lloyds Road difficult

“The school is located very close to the spot and students use the road regularly. Cows roaming freely on the road pose danger to them. Corporation officials should take the necessary steps to clear the garbage bins regularly and stop the owners from letting their cattle on road,” a shop owner, on the condition of anonymity, said.

Apart from the local residents, motorists who use the road regularly raised their concern and said that they have to be more cautious while crossing the garbage bins.

“One could not predict when and how the cows swoop onto the road. Even I have had a couple of close shaves,” M Manoj, a rider, said.

When DT Next visited the spot, the garbage bins at the spot were overflowing and cows were feeding on it. The cows were also the reason for the scattered garbage around the bins.

Meanwhile, another resident said that civic officials are shunting them as most of the residents are from lower middle class or poor families. “The officials keep the roads clean where privileged people live The roads are well maintained, and garbage is cleared regularly in those areas. Officials should avoid lopsided attitude towards poor people,” he said.

Another common issue on Lloyds Road is the unchecked encroachments on pedestrian pavements. At some spots, vendors have even encroached the road.

When contacted, a Chennai Corporation official said that they are clearing the garbage bins regularly and have taken action against the cattle owners who let their cows roam the road. “However, we will instruct the conservancy workers to clear the bins every day without fail,” the official said.

Manoj pointed out that the eastern end of the Lloyds Road is narrower and owing to the encroachments, the road always choked. “The civic body should remove the encroachments and expand the road,” he urged.