In a small hostel room in Anna Nagar, shared with three other students, Varadhan S. from Cuddalore district prepares for the TNPSC exams. Because space is limited, he often looks for other places to study. During the monsoon, he studies indoors, but for most of the year, he prefers the nearby Kambar Colony playground.
“New private study halls are coming up all over Anna Nagar, but the affordable ones are already full. The others are too expensive or don’t allow group study,” Varadhan says.
He adds that his coaching centre does not have a proper study hall either. Like him, many students use neighbourhood parks and playgrounds to study, even though they face problems like mosquito bites, no drinking water, and locked restrooms.
This shows how students often struggle to find affordable and convenient study spaces in the city.