Ellis Road faces a litany of civic problems, but has no Councillor to seek solutions

Ellis Road, located off Mount Road in Chennai, faces a slew of civic issues: daily congestion, littered streets, unregulated parking, lack of pedestrian space, overflowing bins, waterlogging during rains, and roadside encroachments.

Though just a kilometre away from the Government Medical College, Omandurar, and close to the Government Estate Metro Station, the street has been left without basic civic attention. The road falls under Ward 59, which currently does not have an elected councillor to represent and follow up on residents’ complaints.

Despite these challenges, Ellis Road remains a busy shopping destination, frequented by students, tailors, and small traders. Known for its printing presses, fabric outlets, gadget centres and stationery shops, the narrow stretch sees heavy footfall, especially during college admission and exam seasons.

“There’s a constant rush from morning till night. Students come for printouts, tailoring units buy in bulk, and others drop in for affordable purchases,” says Nirmala Joseph, who runs a photocopy shop.

Street vendors selling snacks and accessories cater to the large crowds, and are an essential part of the local economy. But without designated vending spaces or pedestrian pathways, vendors and shoppers are forced to share limited road space. “We’re just trying to earn a living like everyone else,” says Mahesh Kumar, a vendor who has been working in the area for over 10 years.

Accumulation of garbage through the day is a major concern. With limited bins and irregular clearing of waste, plastic cups, food containers and wrappers are a common sight.

“People leave the waste anywhere they want because the bins are always full,” says Abdul Hakeem, a tailoring supply store owner.

The Royapuram Zone V Ward committee chairperson, P. Sriramulu, said the issues would be looked into and addressed as soon as possible.