Chennai: Visitors to Greater Chennai Corporation park in Padmagiri Nagar in Madhavaram have raised safety concerns as iron rods are placed carelessly near slides and construction debris is strewn all around. Also, the park has insufficient lighting. Residents have criticised GCC for carrying out development work without proper safety measures or without restricting public access.“It is one of the few open spaces left in the locality, and children gather here every evening to play. It has become unsafe as construction materials have been dumped near play equipment. Iron rods and heaps of gravel pose a serious risk of children tripping, falling or suffering injuries while running around,” said T E Goverdhan, a resident of Padmagiri Nagar. “What is most worrying is that the work continues while children are still allowed inside the park,” he added.Residents asked why contractors were permitted to store construction materials in the park without adequate safety measures, including warning signs, protective fencing or temporary closures.“Several light fixtures are either non-functional or provide inadequate illumination, making it difficult for families to use the park after sunset. The pathways are dimly lit and discourage children and senior citizens from using the facility during the evenings,” said C Raghukumar, convener of the Perambur Neighbourhood Development Forum.Locals urged the civic body to immediately clear the construction materials, barricade work zones, restore proper lighting and ensure contractors follow basic safety norms while carrying out civic works.Madhavaram zonal officer was unavailable for comment despite multiple attempts by TOI.
