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
True sri Ramesh Kumar. Last 25+ years I and a few friends are fighting to get this encroachment removed. Even walking into our colony in peak hours very very tough . Temple and MLM hall on either side of the road at this point get lot of visitors by car scooter and walk. Impossible to negotiate at this 1/3 available road width. I have written to CM cell 20 times from madam JJ days. No one takes action to remove the building on the road.
My last post to cm cell in Nov end 2025
To
CM cell
I read in ur esteemed columns today that Chennai HC and some citizen worried over pavement being occupied by hawkers shops etc . Really good PIL by a dutiful citizen. Hope problem gets resolved not for kk nagar only but all over chennai city.
This is about pavement . But a road 80% occupied by a building is there in my colony Mahalingapuram division 110 Zone IX nungambakkam chennai city. I and a few fellow seniors of my colony have been fighting with authorities for last 25+ years to get the Aavin milk booth ( so called but it is a commercial building) demolished and restore the road in full to public use. The structure – a permanent construction occupying 80% of the width of Saraswathi street at the junction it meets Mahalingapuram main road , between Shiva temple and MLM marriage halls . Only about approximately 9 feet road width is available to people to walk , cars scooters to move at one of the main entry point into this colony.
It is to be seen to believe how congested the place is especially in peak hours. More on a day special Pooja in the temple and or a wedding in MLM hall.
Many accidents have happened here even very recently by pedestrians getting hit by car scooter etc.
I have sent atleast 5 petitions to CM cell In last six months ,not to mention of earlier ones last many years.
Can a solution be found to this problem??? How can a public road be illegally under occupation by a govt agency like Aavin .
Thanks
DGopalakrishnan