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CENTRAL ZONE
An ode to Chennai
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Unlike Mumbai or Bangalore, Chennai is not strictly bound by its suburban delineations like Central, North, South, East or West. For the citizens, it is a well spread-out city with a lot of freedom and choice.
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THERE IS an amazing quality about this city. It loves every bit of itself — be it Central, North, South, East or West — people always seem to be at home in their neighbourhood.
Unlike the South Mumbai breed of citizens who believe that "only South Bombay is Bombay". All roads in Mumbai, hence, lead to `South Bombay'. Or even unlike the Bangaloreans, who think "Brigade Road is the place" and yes... all roads there lead to `Brigades'.
With most shopping stores, pizza places, cafes, pool parlours, malls, markets and movie halls hogging most of the space in Central Chennai, one would be tempted to think that this is the heart of the city. But that's not really the case.
For, Chennaiites just love their city too much. They hang out at the beach, sometimes take the East Coast Road to party. And are equally comfortable in the middle of a closed-door nightclub. They love their residential suburbs and the commercial complexes far away from home. They love their Ranganathan Street as much as they love Spencer's Plaza. They are fine drinking filter coffee at home. At the same time equally open to drinking it for a multinational price. They love their limited pubs and discos. And even their temples, all the way to Mahabalipuram. Chennai is a well spread-out city, that way.
There is always an option to go places. Funny as it might sound, we in Chennai have the freedom of movement. There are adequate roads, routes and means of transport to get from one end to another— we have a range of local trains, public transport buses, autorickshaws, share autos, call taxis to choose from, unlike Bangalore where you have no choice but to take an auto after 10 in the night or Mumbai where autorickshaws are banned in certain areas and all traffic (road and rail) into South Mumbai revolves round one or two key routes.
Just as it is possible to cut across the entire city in a hour or two, at the most, it is also possible here, to get out of your home and walk to the closest superstore, coffee pub, pizza place, temple, restaurant, without being dependent on machines or transport. We have self-sufficient suburbs that we are happy with.
It is possible to take a vacation right in the middle of the city by taking a stroll in the closest park or playground or beach and also a choice to escape to another city in less than five hours — Pondicherry is 150 kilometres away, and Bangalore, 330. We have the choice and the freedom.
There are many roads that the heart of the city takes. It is that chord that strikes you, no matter where you go, that makes it an amazing place. All roads in Chennai, lead to a place we all call and feel... home.
SUDHISH KAMATH
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