The city administration, and whoever else it is who is responsible for such things never seem to want to let well alone. In the last two months we have highlighted how in the name of development giant towers are coming up near the Central Station and at the Broadway bus stand. And now it is learnt that there are ‘plans’ for the Agri-Horticultural Society Gardens. While the overall principle behind what is contemplated is to attract crowds to this green lung, in reality it is only going to add to the chaos.
As per the latest announcement, the erstwhile Agri-Horticultural Society premises, which the Government took over following a protracted court battle, is to be converted into a major attraction. On the anvil is an overhead bridge connecting the Semmozhi Poonga across the road to this space and the Senganthal Poonga which opens up on Lloyds/VP Raman Road to the rear. The garden itself is to be renamed Kalaignar Centenary Park and if the TN Horticultural Department’s request for tender is anything to go by, there will soon be waterfalls, a mist pathway, a flower tunnel, a pebble walk, a museum, a fish pond, a giant tower that promises a panoramic view of the cityand finally, believe it or not, a zipline to take you across the garden. There are also plans to have a restaurant in what was the Agri Horticultural Society’s office building. In short, the garden will be anything but a green space.
The Horticultural Society in happier times.
This does not bode well for what was Horticultural Society gardens or Semmozhi Poonga. Both have thus far been green spaces with plenty of trees and minimal intervention. And it will probably be best to leave them that way. Yes, we are aware that we may appear Luddite in our views but given the congestion in that area, all of these plans are retrograde at best. As it is, there is enormous traffic build up at the Anna Flyover junction and this is only going to be added to if all these facilities come up at the gardens. Just a couple of months ago a flower show was held at Semmozhi Poonga and while it proved a major attraction there was complete chaos as far as traffic management was concerned.
And are we to assume that the US Consulate which is just next door will remain silent if a giant tower comes up alongside? Why, at present there are gun-toting guards posted on the Anna Flyover to ensure nobody stops and takes so much as a look at the Consulate. And the same applies to pedestrians on Anna Salai or Cathedral Road. What if people begin gawking from the tower or while going to and fro on the zipline? Will it not pose a security threat? And as for the zipline itself, is it by definition not meant for much larger expanses with a lot more to see aerially? What does Cathedral Road really have to offer?
Coming to the maintenance aspect too, our administration has not covered itself in glory. There are numerous rockeries and cascades put up at places such as the beach and the May Day Park which are nothing much by way of aesthetics and rarely seem to work. How then are the proposed facilities at the park going to be any different?
In short, these plans are ill-advised at best. The Government ought to focus on keeping spaces such as Semmozhi Poonga and Tholkappiar Poonga as reserves with none of their fancy ideas to be brought into play by way of ‘improvement’ or ‘development’.