Encroachments by Civic Agencies: A Case of Government vs Government
I write to draw attention to a troubling civic issue that has recently come into sharper focus. On November 25, 2025, The Hindu reported that the first division bench of the Madras High Court directed the Greater Chennai Corporation and TANGEDCO to submit, within three weeks, a plan to relocate public toilets, Amma canteens, and electrical junction boxes installed on footpaths in KK Nagar and Ashok Nagar. The Court’s order highlights a paradox: while private encroachments on public spaces are widely condemned, government bodies themselves are obstructing pedestrian rights-of-way.
This problem is not confined to those localities. For many years, an Aavin parlour has occupied nearly half the road at the entrance to Saraswathi Street from Mahalingapuram Main Road. Following the construction of the flyover and dividers on Mahalingapuram Main Road, access to the colony has been severely restricted. The presence of this government-run parlour at such a critical junction has turned the situation into a nightmare for residents and commuters alike.
View from Mahalingapuram Main Road.
View from Saraswathi Street.
It is disheartening that such matters require judicial intervention. Should it really take a court order for government agencies to recognise and rectify their own encroachments? This appears to be a case of “Government versus Government”, where one arm of the administration obstructs public convenience, and another is compelled to step in to enforce compliance.
I urge the authorities to take proactive measures to remove such obstructions without waiting for litigation. Civic responsibility must begin with government institutions themselves, setting the right example for private parties.
Ramesh C. Kumar
Director
Indian Commerce & Industries Co P Ltd.
Beehive Foundry Engineering Works