Citizens Guardians, an NGO has requested the government not to shift five Sub-Registrar’s office to Nolambur. The offices at Ashok Nagar, Virugambakkam, Kodambakkam, Anna Nagar and Villivakkam are to be shifted as the government plans to integrate them at Nolambur.
Speaking to News Today, Citizens Guardians founder V Ravichandran said, “There are lot of spaces in government offices in south Chennai and there are vacant government lands. The proposed relocation of five Sub-Registrar offices can be accommodated in Koyambedu or nearby areas. While it is appreciable that the offices are to be shifted to their own premises, the government should have asked for public opinion before shifting to far away places.”
Citizen Guardians took up a field study at Nolambur. “The infrastructure is totally inadequate and senior citizens would be the most affected,” the NGO said.
Nolambur which comes under Maduravoyal Assembly constituency has no proper bus or rail connectivity, alleged Ravichandran. Once the office comes at Nolambur, residents of Ashok Nagar, Kodambakkam, Virugambakam have to travel nearly 18 to 21 kms, and Anna Nagar, Villivakkam residents should travel between 8 and 10 kms. “People have to spend more money and it is time consuming due to heavy traffic,” he said.
The department officials are claiming that everything is online but in reality, even for clarification, one has to go to the office, said Ravichandran.
Citizen Guardians has sent petitions in this regard to Inspector General of Registration, Principal Secretary of Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, Secretary to Chief Minister, Special Officer at Chief Minister’s Special Cell and Chief Secretary of Tamilnadu.
S Sathyanarayan, a resident of K K Nagar said, “We discussed the relocation of Sub-Registrar office in our association meeting and how senior citizens would be affected. It will be difficult to travel over 20 kms from K K Nagar or Ashok Nagar to reach Nolambur.”
But not everyone is unhappy with the government’s decision. P Sudhakar, a resident of Sapthagiri Colony, Ashok Nagar said, “It is fine that the office is being shifted to Nolambur. The area will be developed and people there will get small scale employment. Everything doesn’t have to be in the heart of the city. How often one goes to registration office?’
He added that it is not a Corporation office or Taluk office where people line up everyday with their grievances. ‘For registration of land or marriage certificate, we don’t go frequently. So, it should not be a problem for people to spend extra time for a day to finish their work.”
Virugambakkam MLA V N Ravi said, “We are trying out best to retain Virugambakkam Sub-Registrar office. The government wants to relocate the office to its own building with better infrastructure. As of now, Sub-Registrar offices are functioning without parking facility and other amenities. We are looking for suitable building with adequate facilities here itself.”