Dungeons of darkness

Dungeons of darkness
That is what the newly constructed pedestrian subways in the central part of the city have been transformed into in recent weeks, thanks to bulb thieves and litter bugs!
SUCHITH KIDIYOOR


With hardly anybody to keep an eye on the subways, thieves have found them the perfect hunting ground to steal bulbs and other electrical fittings. So much so that a walk through the subway in front of Sri Jayachamarajendra Government Polytechnic (SJGP) on Seshadri Road near K R Circle would remind the pedestrians of a fearful trek through a dimly-lit underground train tunnel.
“When the subway was inaugurated, it looked classy with good lighting. But things started changing gradually as one bulb after another started vanishing. With the ‘bulb population’ reducing, thieves started stealing other fittings. Now it is darkness that rules here,” said a lecturer at Maharani’s College for Women.
The same conditions prevail in the seven new subways constructed within a 500-metre radius of K R Circle. The situation has put pedestrians, including the students of seven colleges in the area, in hardship. Without adequate light, the subways have become havens for hijras to harass people while some pedestrians have converted them into urinals.
The authorities, however, express helplessness. The officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), who chose not to go on record with their comments since the model code of conduct is in place due to the upcoming polls, said, “These subways were meant for the people’s convenience. It is sad that miscreants don’t spare even the bulbs. A majority of the pedestrian subways in the central part of the city are less than six months old. Some have already become garbage dumps. The commissioner has asked the wards concerned to repair the damage and also to look after the maintenance of the subways in future.”
MONEY DRAIN SUBWAYS COST
Hebbal police station Rs 72.63 lakh CBI Road junction Rs 94.34 lakh Sanjaynagar junction Rs 49.62 lakh BDA Junction Rs 40 lakh S J P College Rs 55.51 lakh Raj Bhavan Road Rs 63.83 lakh Millers Road near
Chalukya Circle Rs 50.81 lakh Dr Ambedkar Veedhi Rs 75 lakh Opposite to Government
Science College Rs 75 lakh Opposite to Martha’s Hospital Rs 63.83 lakh Across Cubbon Road
near K R Circle Rs 61.16 lakh Nrupatunga Road Rs 61.16 lakh WHAT PEDESTRIANS SAY
In Bangalore, it is very difficult to cross the roads. It is a welcome move that the government is constructing subways for the safety of pedestrians. But the authorities concerned should make sure that they are kept clean and hygienic.
Raghu, visitor
I do not think the BBMP has turned up to see what has happened to this subway after its inauguration.You cannot find even a single bulb inside the passage which is also badly littered.
Shubha, student of
Maharani’s College
I regularly use the subway in front of Government Science College. This subway is turning dirtier by the day. Garbage is dumped here and no one cleans it up. More than that, the underpass does not stretch till the pavements on both sides of the road. Buses stop right in front of the entrance of the subway and it is very dangerous. BMTC buses do not stop near the bus shelters near the subway. So the people do not use the facility.
Anil Kumar, student
Now they have made K R Circle signal-free. The vehicles come from all directions and it is difficult to know which one is going straight or taking a left turn towards Nrupatunga Road. Pedestrians crossing the road are risking their lives. Now they have constructed a subway, but it will definitely not serve the purpose, as it is not in the right place, where people cross the road.
Girish Gowda, advocate