Monday, May 12, 2014

Southern Railways exploring the possibility of converting Circus Ground as alternate parking space for Chennai Central four-wheelers


C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Is Southern Railways exploring an alternate parking site to ease away pressure on Chennai Central?
Yes, says a senior railway official on condition of anonymity. “We are exploring the possibility of converting the Circus ground into a parking area,” the official says.
Another railway official said this would be done temporarily till the metro rail work gets completed.
He said the metro rail work has affected the parking for four-wheelers. Even the premium parking for call taxis is lying vacant as metro rail has barricaded the place.
Sources reveal that tenders have been called for premium parking space but nothing has been decided yet. To a query whether the premium parking space will be allocated inside Chennai Central, a railway official said they are looking at various sites including the one year the temple at Chennai central.
Interestingly, the issue for parking has been a headache for railway protection force personnel who are patrolling the Chennai Central station after the blast. While railway personnel refuse to comment on the parking issues facing the station some confide that the plan for alternate parking lot at Circus ground may not be that feasible.
“It is such a congested place. If the parking space is shifted it will result in further confusion. The main issue which the railway officials have to factor in is to have separate exit and entry routes for the cars at the site,” a railway personnel suggested.
While an entry should be near the Rippon Building the exit should be from the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium or else one has to do away with the scrap metal dealers, he says.
“This could result is socio-economic issues,” he added.

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