On any given day, more than 5,000 auto rickshaws come to Dams Road and West Cooum Road for all kinds of repair; from major engine overhauling to small tinkering. There are various kinds of workshops here, catering to different tasks; from lining to lathe work, arc welding to fare meter servicing, fork bending to glass work. There are other shops selling spare parts for autos.

One can see the mangled chassis of many autos by the roadside. Autos which have been damaged in accidents account for 40% of the total number of autos that come here. In the case of autos involved in accidents, mechanics do not undertake repair of the vehicle unless the driver has his douments in order. The documents that are required are the RC book (Registration Certificate), permit, insurance, driver's licence, M V (Motor Vehicle) report and the FIR (First Information Report). Then the quotation is given for the claim to be made to the insurance firm.

Babu, a mechanic, who has been here for nearly three decades, says that when he set up shop in 1973 on West Cooum Road there were only four 'auto' mechanics in the area. Today there are more than a 100 mechanics alone on these two roads. Lawrence, the owner of a lathe workshop, says that these lathe workshops help save a lot of money for auto drivers, because they help in increasing the service life of the original equipment. For example, a small one-inch rod, which would cost Rs. 250/- if it were to be replaced with a new one, would cost only Rs. 25/- if it were to be welded and then cut to its original size.

In the 70's there was not substantial demand for mechanics because the number of autos that were plying was very low. At that time there were hardly a few thousand autos plying in and around Chennai. Between 1980 and 1990, the number of autos shot up from a few thousand to around 20,000. Today, even by conservative estimates there are more than 50,000 autos plying the city alone. More than 80% of the autos that are running in the city come to Dams Road and West Cooum Road for repairs.

These two roads give employment to more than 10,000 people. Babu says that as the demand for mechanics grew, the 'boys' that he had in his shop as apprentices, went on to become mechanics and set up their own shops. More than 10 of his 'trainees' have their own mechanic shed on West Cooum Road.

Approach: Take the left while coming down from Gandhi Irwin Bridge towards Pudupet.

Sunday Holiday.