In the year 2013, Phoenix Market city was opened in Velachery in Chennai. It is known that this mall is the second largest mall in Chennai city. This mall has become very popular and is visited by many now. Information is many visitors to this mall are not willing to pay money for parking so they leave their vehicles on the sides of the 100 ft road in Velachery. This has resulted in choking the stretch, creating issues for the public.
It must be taken into account that haphazard parking of vehicles by those visiting the restaurants along the stretch and presence of wayward cabs and autos have increased the chaos. An amount of Rs 30 to Rs 50 for the first hour and Rs 10 to Rs 20 for each additional hour is being collected by the mall and other 2 private parking facilities in the vicinity.
A resident belonging to Madipakkam who visits Phoenix mall frequently spoke about how Rs 200 was spent on the movie ticket and how spending another Rs 100 to Rs 150 for parking exceeds his budget. Information is he is one amongst many who park their vehicles in front of Cephy mobile shop. It was mentioned by an employee of this mobile shop that no motorists listens to their requests.
To create illegal parking space for their customers, few private restaurants have encroached the public space. It is shocking to note that the private security personnel of these restaurants deflate the tyres of vehicles of non-customers who use the parking space. Movement of other vehicles along the road connecting Guindy and Velachery is affected due to parking of taxis and autos that are parked parallel to these private vehicles.
The local residents expressed their thoughts and spoke about how the neighborhood that was once peaceful became noisy and busy after Phoenix mall was opened. This was without civic authorities adding infrastructure to the neighborhood.
It was later pointed out by a police officer that they do not have enough helpers to tow away the vehicles that are parked illegally. He shed light on how in the past Rs 700 was given to the helpers per day and how now just Rs 5 per day is being allotted for the helpers as the entire fine collecting process has become digital. Information is private security employed by the Phoenix mall does the work of traffic regulation on the Velachery Road near the mall entrance.