Post rain, Tambaram subway turns unusable

According to the pedestrians who were using it till the monsoon rains began, the subway, which was built at a cost of Rs 3.6 crore, has been a blessing for them. “Before the subway was opened, we either had to use the flyover to reach the other side of Tambaram or use the congested railway foot over bridge. This was a long pending demand, and we were relieved when it was opened. But due to lack of drains and poor design, it gets flooded even after  light rain,” said Justin Raj, a resident of Tambaram. 

M Naveen Kumar, a regular commuter from Tambaram, said that the pedestrian subway was very helpful to go from East Tambaram to the West and vice versa. Now they are back to being dependent on the crowded foot overbridge or the flyover.

Local residents added that the subway, built at a substantial cost, was now functioning as a ‘bar’ for drunkards and even anti-social elements. 

“As the public is not able to use the subway for nearly 15 days, these people have taken over the space for illegal activities,” alleged another resident. “We don’t know whom to raise the complaint with, because the Railways say that subway is being maintained by the Municipality while the civic officials say it should be done by the Railways.”

When contacted, a Railway official at Tambaram said, “We will look into the issue and take steps to maintain the subway properly. We are also seeking the help of the Municipality to maintain it. Soon, everything 

will be set right.”