Kannagi Nagar encroachments on pavements and Open Space Reservation (OSR) land have triggered a political dispute in Chennai, with residents seeking the removal of commercial structures and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) ordering an inspection of the area.
The immediate dispute centres on OSR land on 15th Cross Street, where residents alleged that two local functionaries of the TVK had put up a shed for a paint and tinkering business. Resident S Somu said the individuals, identified as Maha and Deva, claimed they had obtained permission from Sholinganallur MLA ‘ECR’ P Saravanan when residents objected to the construction.
Somu said complaints had been submitted through the GCC’s public grievance redressal portal, but residents believed no action had followed. The lack of a response, he alleged, had increased suspicions of possible collusion between civic officials and political functionaries. These allegations have not been independently established in the report.
Residents said the disputed OSR land could instead be used as a children’s play area. Somu said Ward 196 did not have a play area, forcing families to travel to other neighbourhoods to access park facilities. The demand places the dispute within a broader issue of how land reserved for public open space is protected and maintained in dense resettlement neighbourhoods.
Councillor Ashwini Karuna alleged that an activist and a TVK functionary had occupied open spaces alongside the footpath with the support of the Sholinganallur MLA. The councillor also alleged that some of the occupied spaces were being rented or leased to others and said several letters had been sent to the corporation’s zonal officer seeking the removal of the encroachments.
The MLA denied that shops on the allegedly encroached land had been established by his party functionaries. Saravanan said that if anyone was using the party’s name for personal benefit, strict action would be taken against them. The denial leaves the responsibility for establishing the status of the structures with the civic authorities and other agencies responsible for public land and footpath management.
Residents further alleged that more than 80 shops had come up on public space along Kannagi Nagar 1st, 2nd and 3rd Main Roads, as well as Ezhil Nagar Main Road. One resident said each shop occupied nearly 200 square feet and alleged that wastewater from the structures was being discharged directly into stormwater drains. The report did not include an official measurement of the occupied area or an independent confirmation of the number of shops.
Residents also said the civic body had designated a vending zone in the area about a year ago, but alleged that it was no longer operating. They distinguished the permanent commercial structures they described from the street vendors, pushcarts and mobile food stalls commonly found on pavements elsewhere in the city, saying the structures were blocking pedestrian movement along major roads.
GCC Joint Commissioner (Works) S Saravanan said he would instruct Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) Aftab Rasool to inspect the area and take necessary action. The inspection is expected to establish the status of the OSR land, the footpath structures, drainage-related complaints and any action required by the corporation.
