Garbage
1. The city is filled with heaps and tons of uncleared garbage with a caustic stench coupled with the nauseating smell of the coovum river meandering through the city carrying all the sewage. It takes two days for the human senses to adjust to the dirty city smell.
Pedestrain Pathways
2. Most of the roads are devoid of pedestrian pathways and if they exist they are occupied by hoardings, hutments, shops, encroachers or street vendors. One has to literally walk on the roads risking one's life. One can be knocked down by speeding automobile or heavy trucks. Cattle and stray dogs stroll on the roads day and night and they could be cause of bites or injury. Take utmost care to life while walking on the roads.
City Driving
3. City traffic is chaotic and getting from one place to another becomes a nightmare during peak traffic periods in the morning and evening. Traffic signals are unreliable and most of the time the red lights are violated by speeding trucks, buses and heavy vehicles. The roads are marked with potholes, recent excavations, exposed fresh digging, open sewage manholes, depressed and raised manholes. All these abutments on the road will ensure a bumpy and jerky ride if one wishes to travel at speeds in excess of 40 KmPH. One should not attempt to drive in unfamiliar roads. Night driving is dangerous as most roads are ill- lit and glaring headlights of on coming vehicles are likely to blind you.
Transport Systems
4. Modes of city public transport are Metro rail, Suburban Rail, and Metro Buses. Private transport are tourist taxis available for 5 hours, 8 hours or a full day (charges varying from Rs 400 to Rs 900), call taxis (charges from Rs 120 for 10 Kms onwards), and three- wheeled auto rickshaws. There are about 40,000 auto rickshaws operating in the city and 25% of them operate with bogus registration and most drivers are of dubious character. There is no set fare structure. One is bound to be cheated. The present asking rate is about Rs 10 per Km though the official rate is Rs 3.50 per Km. Do not take an auto from an auto stand as Rs 10 has to be paid to the touts. This amount is added to the fare. Take an auto which is on the move on the roads. The auto drivers have a robust union with political connections of the ruling party. Generally Police complaints do not have any effect. The three wheelers are law unto themselves and city polluters as well.
Personal Conveyance
5. Personal transport is the most reliable but its traffic density is increasing at a galloping rate. Two wheelers and cars are more convenient but driving during peak periods is a great strain because of traffic jams and poorly designed pot- holed roads, median jumpers, unmanned pedestrian crossings, and rash driving by trucks, tipper lorries, water trucks, buses, two and three wheeler drivers and drunken driving by night; and add to it mechanically unsound vehicles with unusual loads impeding the traffic flow. There is no adherence to lane driving or traffic signals. Traffic policing is of very poor quality and traffic violators go most of the time Scot free. There is no system of effective ticketing for traffic violations and hence most of the violators just bribe their way out and continue their rash driving leading to accidents and causalities. The penal and reformation system for traffic violators is non- existent. One must drive with keen senses and great caution if you want to return home safely.
Adulteration
6. Adulteration is another area one must be aware off. Purchases must be made in renowned retail stores. Petroleum products must be checked for purity. Ensure that purity check is made before filling your vehicle. All Petrol bunks have the purity check kit for free. Similarly check for genuine engine oil as the market comprises of 50% recycled engine oil filled in genuine looking packages.
Civic Sense
7. Spitting is a social evil but the habit is deep rooted and embedded amongst the great majority of the citizens. One will find sputum in all public places like airports, railway stations, Government offices, roads, Gardens, beaches, anywhere and everywhere. Chewing beetle leaf and tobacco is common. One will find their red footprints stamped on roads, buildings and at all places. One is bound to be sprayed by sputum or red beetle leaf right out of the mouth on to your face or dress. On reaching home leave the footwear at the doorsteps and disinfect before taking them indoors. Remember to wash hands and face after a journey in the city.
Mosquitoes
8. The mosquitoes have conquered Chennai. There are over dozen types and varieties of them. The size varies from one to ten millimetres. They are bred in the Coovum river, Adyar backwaters, rivers, lakes and hundreds of kilometers of open storm water drains containing stagnant sewage water all along the roads and highways of the city. The menace is down played by the civic health authorities. The citizens are spending monthly about Rs 500/ to combat the menace. The poor resort to burning any waste material all night to smoke out the mosquitoes including plastics, which is injurious to health and increasing the pollution levels. Chennai ranks amongst the 10th most polluted places in the world. Thanks to the sea and land breeze which blows them elsewhere. Mosquito proofing windows and doors and mosquito nets will reduce the menace and protect from related deadly diseases.
Public services and Utilities
9. Government and public services and utilities are housed mostly in ill- maintained and shoddy office buildings. Every office dealing with the public have touts or illegal liaison officials who act on behalf of the official concerned. This arrangement facilitates corrupt practises including indirect acceptance of bribery. This is prevalent in electricity, income tax, transport, corporation, municipality, ports, reservation counters, telephones, passport, and all other Government organisations and departments. One should not get perplexed by cobwebs of rules. Lot of information is given out and available in the connected websites. Individuals are advised to take advantage of the Right to Information Act with an application fee of Rs 10 only. In case of grievances get in touch with cag.helpdesk@gmail.com
website: http://www.cag.org.in/
Infra Structure
10. Infra structure for development of Chennai is almost standstill for the last 5 years. There has been a threefold surge in air traffic. Automobile traffic has doubled in the last five years. The population too is growing with unaccounted immigrants from Bihar, Orissa and neighbouring states. The civic services have broken down as seen during this monsoon season. None of the storm water drains were functional. Water flow was regulated through arterial roads. Many low lying areas flooded for over a month. The design of fly overs and under bridges and bridges are of very poor standards and do not function for the intended purpose of decongestion. The Kodabakkam bridge, Geminii fly over and one near IIT Guidy speak for themselves. Traffic jams are caused on the over bridge itself. Foresight and planning is a casualty in the fast race to make money at all costs. The Kathipara multilevel flyover being constructed near Guindy has thrown normal traffic out of gear. Many travelling by domestic and International flights have missed flights due to heavy traffic jams lasting up to 2 hours. The planning for construction is very bad. All the construction material lying strewn all over the important junction is blocking the free flow of traffic. Modern construction techniques of getting all prefab materials overhead by large boom cranes should have been resorted, instead of blocking the traffic with girded scaffolding. The second Howrah bridge in Kolkata was constructed by the Japanese Engineers with least disturbance to normal traffic flow. Can we not emulate the Japanese and other Asians who are adept at building bridges using modern techniques?
Domestic Help and Security
11. Engaging domestic help in Chennai is risky. One is advised to complete the police verification before hiring services. Security of valuables in the house is another aspect one has to consider in case the house is left unattended during the occupants absence. There are varied type of burglars operating in the city. Con men confront the house owners and decamp with valuables in daylight brandishing knives. Prevention is best. Do not keep cash or valuables in the house. Chain snatching is common by two wheeled motorcyclists. Avoid walking in lonely stretches. Burglars use advanced techniques to target victims. Do not fall prey. Install keyhole and chain locking to see who the stranger is before opening the door.
Purchases and safety of Credit/ ATM Cards
12. Do not buy costly gold jewellery as most of the gold is impure. If you should buy insist on the bill and take a digital picture with the bill and items as proof of purchase. Be careful when you withdraw large amounts of cash from banks as you are likely to be targeted by con men operating in the vicinity of the bank. Keep your credit and ATM cards safe. Do not divulge or seek assistance of strangers and volunteers to assist in withdrawing cash. Do not disclose pin number to anyone.
Parking and Shopping
13. Parking is another problem and one should exercise great care when leaving personal vehicle unattended. Do not keep any valuables or original documents in the vehicle. Carry always photo copy of all relevant vehicle documents. Menace of illegal parking of commercial vehicles in all the lanes, by- lanes, service lanes and in front of residential houses is the greatest threat to security and privacy of residents in Chennai. The Police are unable to contain or control illegal Parking due to the magnitude of the problem and lack of resources to discipline the errants. All Police stations should be equipped with tow vehicles to reduce the menace.
Shopping has it own thrills but one has to be vigilant of pickpockets, cheaters and in some cases even touts. Better to shop in peace by selecting suitable outlets where a sales person can attend to your needs.
Health
14. Health must be preserved at all times. Drink protected water, in case of doubt, boil the water. Consume food from reputed restaurants and hotels and food courts. Fruits and vegetables if taken raw must be washed properly before consumption. Be wary of spurious labelled alcoholic drinks. One can get any type of medication from medical Shops. Some sell spurious drugs. Confirm that the drugs purchased have a bill with your name and ensure that it is within expiry date.
Noise Pollution
15. The city blares with loud music or speeches at most of the street corners and residential areas using high wattage cone speakers with over 13odb loudness. These noise levels could have adverse effect on young children and elderly citizens. Though the cone loud speakers have been banned by the supreme court directive, Chennai residents are subject to high dose of noise pollution. Try to avoid and reduce noise levels by closing all windows and doors whenever subjected to blaring loud speakers and bring it to the notice of the nearest Police authorities.
