For residents of north Chennai, Purasawalkam High Road is Ranganathan Street during Deepavali.
For the police though, the two-km road is a nightmare. They have to handle the surging crowd and also keep an eye out for petty offenders including chain snatchers and pocket-pickers.
The police have installed nearly a dozen CCTV cameras at important junctions, including the one at Madhar Shah textile showroom on Purasawalkam High Road. Further, a separate lane has been marked for pedestrians and steel barricades placed to allow free flow of vehicular traffic including MTC buses along the route.
“Such separate lanes for shoppers enables us to closely monitor the movements of petty offenders ,” said a senior police officer.
The Kilpauk police district comprises nine police stations covering areas like Kilpauk, Chetpet, Secretariat Colony, Periamet, Vepery and Ayanavaram. Each police station, on an average, has at least 30 police personnel covering both law and order and crime in the neighbourhood. Most of the policemen and women would be deployed on the stretch and other shopping areas like Doveton junction.
The coming weekend poses the greatest challenge as more crowds are expected in the commercial hub of north Chennai.
“We have also roped in fire fighters and ambulances to meet any emergency. A separate police help desk and a medical team will also be available. Cases of children gone missing can also be brought to the help desk where the description and other details of a missing child will be announced on a mike,” said a police officer.
Commercial vehicles including container lorries, goods carriers and water tankers have been barred from entering the shopping areas between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. The entire PH Road is a no-parking zone for all vehicles including two-wheelers. Bikes will be allowed in the street lanes along the stretch, while cars can be parked only at the parking lots allotted inside the shopping malls and respective shops.
Restrictions will also be placed on autos and share-autos with specific pick-up and drop points in Purasawakkam, Doveton, Broadway, Flower Bazaar and Old Washermenpet, especially M.C. Road Junction.
