Chennai: Subways near Anna Flyover shut, pedestrians at risk

CHENNAI: Inordinate delay in reopening twin subways on Anna Salai has put pedestrians at risk. Located within of 250m between Anna Flyover and Thousand Lights Junction, the facilities were shut for metro rail work on the arterial road.
M Jayalakshmi, a flower vendor and resident of Thousand Lights, said she was forced to shell out Rs 40 for an auto rickshaw to cross the road after alighting at the Church Park bus stop.
“Many senior citizens like me who cannot walk longer distance and school students have been affected due to the closure of the subway for about two years. Some risk their lives by jaywalking at the end of Anna Flyover to cross the road,” she said. “We are being told by authorities that the subway will be reopened every month, but the shutters are down,” she said.
In the absence of pedestrian subways, people have to walk till the traffic signal at the Anna Flyover junction and cross the road. Those coming from Greams Road should reach the Whites Road-Anna Salai Junction to cross the road. Pedestrian are allowed to cross if the traffic police open barricades at the Peters Road Junction for vehicles coming from Teynampet to Royapettah to take a right turn. However, pedestrians said there was little scope for movement because of continuous passage of vehicles.
Jayakumar, a resident of Buddi Begam Street off Anna Salai said work is on at snail’s pace since renovation began over a year ago. “Office-goers are the worst hit because it is extremely difficult to cross the road given the number of vehicles plying on it,” he said.
The state highways department is renovating the two pedestrian subways at a financial outlay of Rs 1.2 crore each. The subways have CCTV cameras. While the highways department has missed multiple deadlines since June last year, official sources said one contractor had quit midway.
When contacted, highway department sources said installation of CCTV cameras in the subway near Anna Flyover was complete. “We have installed six CCTV cameras and work is in progress to install another set of six cameras in the second subway. Work will be complete in three days and both the facilities will be thrown open for the public by next week,” the official said.