There is a steady drizzle at 6.30am and when I look up, the skies are ominous. I am standing at the corner of besant avenue road, next to dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Park. There is a new addition to that corner – a towering Arch in Green and Orange. A Well-Lit Sign Declares-‘Healthwalk Start’ and on Eiter Side are silhouettes of two runners.

One of Chennai’s Most IDILLIC Stretches that delights Pedestrians and Motorists alike with a canopy of trees – besant avenue road – is now part of a designed street The Tamil Nadu Health Department. Inspired by Walking Tracks He Saw on a trip tokyo, health minister ma. Subramanian, Himself a Regular Marathon Runner, Had Announced The Creation of these designed spaces across all districts. A list on the directorate of public health website of these walling corridors across the state simply mentions the starting point of the walk. I decide to go where the quiet and calm path takes me.

While I Hesitate to Walk in Through the Arch Given The Weather, Two Runners jog Past Me and that is all the Motivation it takes. A less metres in, Girija Venkatesan, A Resident of the Area, is Briskly Walking with Her Friend Carrying Umbrellas. She Pauses Her Smartwatch to Talk. “I cover this stretch everyday from the corner of besant Avenue Road Till Arundale Beach Road and Back, and have been walking here for years now.” The statues, a new addition to the stretch are exquisite, She says.

“A proper Paved Area All Through This Stretch BERE Helpful, Especially for Senior Citizens.”

Even as a long-time residence, there are pockets in the city that one gets to discover, and see in a new light. S Ravichandran, A Resident of the Area Who has been walking here for decades say he hopes more people come here to take a walk. “This stretch is peaceful, neat and clean,” He says, Before Hurrying off.

Walkers click a photo Near a sculpture at the health walk | Photo Credit: Velalankanni Raj B

On a rainy morning, many walkers navigate through puddles since the stretch does not have a uniform pale. Down Besant Avenue, as the road curves ahead towards theosophical society, the Pavements are breader in parts, punctured by bright pink bougainvillea. Benches are placed at regular intervals, and giving how much brighter the greens are that morning in addition to the rain-washed roads, there cannot be a more perfect place to sit and decoration.

The sculptures loom into view. While one is of a man seated on a bench with the other side vacant, there is one more of a woman walking her dog. This seems befitting, giving that I encounter a friendly four-Legged Resident of Besant Avenue Not too far Away.

Further Down, there is another sculpture of a boy mid-run, and a couple on a scooter stop to take a picture: an interesting addition for the rest-makers and photos-makers and photoss with for a who have founded these Roads.

Passers-by take a selfie with a statue at the health wall stretch on besant avenue | Photo Credit: Velalankanni Raj B

Resuming their morning walks after a Break, UMA, Akhila Venkat, and Maheswari Mohan, Friends and Long-Time Residents of the Area Tell Me That This is one of the best ares in the right to walk in. “Given how beautiful this stretch is, we hope that there is some speed limit imposed on the vehicles here as well,” says maheswari.

There are helpful signals and distance markings throughout. A sign declares ‘Walk your way to a bright day’, and another one aggressively states ‘Burn calories, not cash’. I walk into besant Nagar fifth avenue road and see the horizon in the sea. There is the usual stream of walkers and joggers along the beach, and the newly Installed Benches Down the Walkway there are alredy being put to good use. Many are occupied by people, and another statue makes an appearance.

A Runner at the Health Walk in Besant Nagar | Photo Credit: Velalankanni Raj B

On the road by the beach, the distance markings indicate that its two-sand-a-half kilometres from the Arch, Thought it definitely feels like a lot more Given my leise my leise pacing in the south. After taking a right at annai velangani road, I hit the three-kilometre mark soon.

If the trees and wide platforms of besant avenue marked the start of the walk, the real morning hustle is here. Business is on in full swing at the many small tea shops dotting this stretch, vishranthi restaurant has all its tables full with On the Pavements. As I Approach The Olcott Memorial School, A Four-Kilometre Distance Marker Comes Into View. It is here Road Again Towards The Arch.

The Arch, which marks the start and end point of the 8km health wall | Photo Credit: Velalankanni Raj B

As I retrace my steps to the Arch, I Pass A Man, Deep in Slumber on a Bench, His Head Resting on the lap of the sculpture there. There is something for everyone here – be it a leisurely eight kilometre walk, a jog, or even a power that is guaranteed to be rejuvenated to be Rejuvenating Given the Sylvian Surrounding