Chennai: Women, elderly bear brunt of nuisance near Tasmac outlet, say Kasturba Nagar residents

“Guests to our apartment are threatened by drunk men. Women are scared to walk past. We have even helped a woman who cried out for help when a tippler allegedly tried to harass her,” said Sekar, a resident living opposite a Tasmac outlet on Canal Bank Road in Kasturba Nagar of Adyar Zone.

According to locals, a 70-year-old woman living on this street rarely ventures out alone because of fears of theft and intimidation. Neighbours and members of the Adyar Kasturba Nagar-South Residents’ Welfare Association (AKNS RWA) often assist her with errands and daily activities, they claimed.

The association stated that the outlet is located within 50 metres of Kasturba Nagar MRTS station and within 500 metres of Madhya Kailash temple and Kalvari Church. It further claimed that railway authorities had objected to the location of the shop.

Mr. Sekar said visitors to his apartment complex had been threatened by tipplers on multiple occasions. “Cars have been damaged and tyres punctured. Women feel unsafe because many men loiter here in an intoxicated state and are often not properly dressed,” he alleged. He recalled an incident in which residents intervened after a woman sought help when a drunken man allegedly attempted to harass her.

This outlet was not among the more than 700 Tasmac shops ordered to be closed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay last month, but it must be closed considering public safety, he added.

The association has been petitioning the State government to close the liquor outlet, as public drinking, harassment and safety concerns have persisted in the area for many years.

According to their petition to the Velachery MLA R. Kumar recently, women and girls face catcalling and harassment, particularly after 6 p.m., while customers frequently consume liquor on the roadside and park vehicles along Canal Bank Road. Quarrels among tipplers often spill onto public spaces, forcing many to avoid the stretch. The representation also cited littering of liquor bottles and food packets, and noted that the outlet is located near Kasturba Nagar MRTS station and close to places of worship.

The association said drunken individuals were frequently found lying unconscious near residential entrances, parking ramps and the MRTS station, creating what residents described as a persistent nuisance and safety hazard. “Due to congestion around the shop, residents said they are often forced to take alternative internal roads, including Kasturba Nagar Second Main Road and Third Cross Street, for shopping and daily travel,” they added.

Residents said authorities should address the issue as soon as possible.