Besant Nagar Second Avenue makes a forceful illustration of Falkland’s law: in the light of what transpired after vendor kiosks were parked on the pavement, the decision to do so seems unnecessary, at best premature.
The revenue department of Greater Chennai Corporation allocated these kiosks (which are carry-overs from a stillborn exercise in Marina) to vendors. And a good many of them did look the gift horse in the mouth.
Considerable time elapsed between the parking of these kiosks and their allocation, and during that period, the kiosks were treated to cosmetic improvements.
As things stand, a majority of vendors have shied away from using these kiosks. A couple of those who started conducting business out of the kiosks have abandoned them.
The net result it that the pavement has these kiosks as well as some of the old vending carts and shops vendors were previously operating from. It is the equivalent of a diet plan that went wrong: instead of replacing the old, unhealthy diet, the new diet serves as an addition. By introducing these streamlined kiosks to have the old shops and vending carts replaced, the plan was to get Besant Nagar Second Avenue to slim down. But as things turned out, this pavement on Besant Nagar Second Avenue has become obese from a double diet.
Published – June 30, 2025 11:01 am IST