Pedestrian subway still a dream

Pedestrian subway still a dream

Y Maheswara Reddy Express News ServiceFirst Published : 19 Aug 2010 12:23:43 AM ISTLast Updated : 19 Aug 2010 09:48:14 AM IST
BANGALORE: The pedestrian sub-way on Silver Jubilee Park Road Junction near the Town Hall was supposed to be thrown open to public on August 15. However, the delay in fixing tiles on the pathway and asphalt the road above the sub-way has played a spoilsport.
On Wednesday, a few workers were seen busy in making arrangements to put up a road divider. There was no sign of any attempt to complete the pending work at the pedestrian sub-way.
When contacted, a supervisor of Parichita Constructions, the construction agency, has said that he had no idea about the date of subway’s inauguration. ‘’The painting work has been completed. We need some more time to complete the pending work,’’ said the supervisor on condition of anonymity.
An Assistant Executive Engineer (Projects) BBMP, who was on the spot, has also expressed his inability to give the exact date of sub-way’s inauguration. ‘’I have recently joined the projects division. Please contact Gopalaswamy, Chief Engineer (Projects), for further details,’’ said the engineer.
The entrance (near Andhra Bank) of the sub-way has 19 steps while the other entrance at Dasappa Thirumalamma has 24 steps. The seven-metre wide and 43.5-metre long sub-way would be a boon for hundreds of pedestrians who are finding it tough to use the road due to heavy traffic. ‘’We are expecting the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to inaugurate the sub-way as early as possible. It will give some relief for traffic police who are struggling to help the pedestrians to cross the road during peak hours,’’ said a traffic police constable.
The construction of the sub-way was began in 2007. ‘‘We want the BBMP authorities to take measures to open it for the public immediately,’’ Syed Ahmed, a petty shop owner.
Gopala Swamy, Chief Engineer (Projects), BBMP was not available for comment.