Problems aplenty at major subways in the city

Sruthisagar Yamunan & Susanna Myrtle Lazarus
Last Updated : 24 Oct 2011 08:57:09 AM IST

Subway near Labour statue

Perhaps one of the best utilised subways in the city, the one near Labour statue, has adequate lighting and enough security as it is placed near the University of Madras. Srinivasan, a government employee, said that the shops inside the subway ensured that there was enough light even up to 10pm. A watchman on duty said the anti-social elements did not hijack the place as there was enough police patrolling. However, the rising number of beggars in the last year had become an irritant, users of the subway said.

Subway near American embassy

With two liquor shops nearby, women who used the subway said that the underground passage was becoming “increasingly dangerous to use”. According to Latha, who works in the nearby automobile showroom, lack of adequate lighting had made the place a preferred one for drunkards once the sun set. She said even if the watchman on duty tried his best to keep such elements out, he was sometimes verbally abused by these miscreants. Others said most women from nearby offices avoided the subway after an alleged chain snatching incident a few months back.

Teynampet subway

Like the one near the Labour statue, the Teynampet subway, has also served its purpose efficiently. The huge width of the road, the heavy traffic and the fact that a bus stand is located right next to the subway on one side, has made it necessary for people. One of the main issues, though, is water logging. Namasivayam, who has a tea shop nearby, says water stagnates very quickly during rains and the drainage that was supposed ease the water out gets blocked often. A couple of women said that a number of traders selling Video CDs inside the subway in the evening had become a nuisance.

Subway near Kannagi Statue

The subway was constructed to help those who visit a number of government offices and colleges on Kamarajar Salai and Chepauk. But people termed it the "most thoughtlessly" built subway in the city. A number of persons said that the width of the road near the subway was not more than 25 feet and being a three-way junction, a signal and a police man were enough to help them cross the road. However, women cited the unruly behaviour of students for not using the subway. The subway needs a police officer to take care of such elements, they said.

Park Station

Connecting passengers from Central Station to the suburban train lines, this subway sees a lot of traffic. The downside is that more than half the area inside the subway has been taken up by vendors. The reduced space makes it easy for pickpockets to get away with their crimes.

Central Railway Station

Previously, a board announcing that jaywalkers would be punished was put up at the Central Railway Station junction. Now, it is the policemen who stop traffic to ensure that pedestrians cross the road, thus making the subway obsolete. Even if pedestrians are directed to use this subway during daytime, It is unusable after dusk.

Wall Tax Road Subway

This subway is hardly used by road users. People are not comfortable using it, as it has become a shelter for roadside dwellers. Moreover, pedestrians prefer to cross the road directly, as it is a narrow road, irrespective of whether the road is empty or crowded.