An invasion of privacy

The Government Higher Secondary School, Medavakkam Main Road, lacks a basic provision and this fact is out there for everyone to see. The school does not have a compound wall and a gate. The school staff and students have reportedly made a plea to Department of School Education, Kancheepuram district that these essentials be provided soon.

They have also asked the Chennai Traffic Police to earmark a space for pedestrian crossing outside the school premises.

Around 500 students study in the school, which is located on an arterial road, and the absence of a compound wall leads to breach of privacy. “Every day, in the early hours, instructors of a few driving schools use the school ground for their driving classes. Heavy vehicles are parked at the school entrance and at times, inside the campus. The cleaners/drivers of the vehicles use the campus to go to Medavakkam Eri for washing the vehicles,” one of the staff said.

“We have asked the drivers not to park their vehicles inside the campus or near the entrance of the school. As heavy vehicles are parked outside, drivers of approaching vehicles on the stretch are unable to see school children crossing the road. A space should be earmarked for the creation of a zebra-crossing to ensure safety of students. At present, we help children cross the road,” the staff added. Thousands of vehicles take the stretch every day as it provides easy connectivity to GST Road, IT Corridor, St. Thomas Mount and Madipakkam.

During rush hour, motorists going towards ECR and OMR take this stretch to avoid the traffic congestion at Medavakkam and on Medavakkam Main Road (Perumbakkam, Sholinganallur). 

“Parking of vehicles outside the premises hinders free movement of traffic on the thoroughfare, forcing students to walk in the middle of the road,” the staff added.