Jaywalking becomes norm as subways remain closed

The subways located outside Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Church Park and another one near the intersection of Greams Road and Anna Salai were closed and taken up for renovation in March 2018 after the Chennai Metro completed tunnelling works in the Washermenpet-Airport section.

With offices, educational institutions and commercial establishments dotting the stretch, pedestrians, particularly, school students, women and elderly, are finding difficult to cross the busy road. Often youngsters can be seen jaywalking unmindful of the speeding vehicles and jumpingthe medians.

“Between Gemini flyover and Anand Theatre bus stop on Anna Salai, there is no place for pedestrians to cross the road. If a pedestrian from Whites Road wanted to reach the other side of Anna Salai, he/she must walk either till Gemini flyover or Anand Theatre signal. It is a long walk and in the absence of subways, people are forced to jaywalk,” said K Sundar, who works at a car showroom near Gemini flyover.

The five-decade-old subways were taken up for much-needed renovation as the pedestrian facility’s entry/exit point had gone below the road level over the years. “The old structure was fully demolished. A modern facility was built in its place. As part of the renovation, the walls abutting the staircases — exterior and interiors — has been replaced by toughened glass akin to the subway outside the Government super speciality hospital,” a senior highways department official said, adding that the work on the two pedestrian subways are almost over and it would be opened very soon.

The damaged flooring was replaced while interior lighting has been enhanced with LED bulbs. The subway would also have rust-free steel handles and ramps for physically challenged persons. In order to enhance the security at the underpass, the highways department has decided to install CCTV cameras with night-vision features at the two subways.