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NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 9:
 

BIG AND SMALL EVERYWHERE: Banners of all sizes of almost all the political parties are left uncleared even after the completion of functions on the roads of north Chennai.

        Huge banners, a must at the venue of every political meeting and along the roads leading up to the venue for miles around, hang undisturbed long after the meeting is over. Most streets in north Chennai have been decked with cloth banners, vinyl posters and paper cutouts of all major political parties.

        These banners, hoardings, etc, pose a threat to pedestrians and motorists passing under them, as the flimsy structures on which they are erected look like they would fall apart any minute.

        Mani said, 'I had a close shave, when a banner fell right in front of me as I was walking down a street in Broadway.'

        The banners, put up along pathways, project into the road, obstructing the free flow of traffic. 'These banners are proving to be quite a hazard while commuting,' said Ravi, a motorist passing through the Royapuram High Road.

        There is also the fact that such colourful hoardings might distract motorists and cause accidents. On Ibrahim street, the banners were put up such that one could not catch a glimpse of the local park.

        Most of the banners erected at Broadway, Royapuram and Kasimedu were found to be touting the success of political parties, others carry birthday wishes, greetings and best wishes to their political leaders. Even prominent overcrowded places like Central Railway station and the Rajaji Salai stretch were no exception.

        'One should be wary while walking down the lanes of Broadway as the pathways here are riddled with potholes. The holes were dug for the banner poles,' said Mani.

        He said that such problems exist, because the authorities concerned do not enforce proper regulations, adding that though it is mandatory that people get approval before erecting banners, none do so.