Meant for convenience,subway work spells trouble

A subway for pedestrians,the construction of which began in January 2010, near Dahunkar Colony to cross the busy Karve Road has itself turned an inconvenience to pedestrians. Almost 50 per cent of the road is blocked because of the work,leading to traffic congestion at Dahanukar Colony square. While a traffic signal or a traffic constable […]

A subway for pedestrians,the construction of which began in January 2010, near Dahunkar Colony to cross the busy Karve Road has itself turned an inconvenience to pedestrians.

Almost 50 per cent of the road is blocked because of the work,leading to traffic congestion at Dahanukar Colony square. While a traffic signal or a traffic constable can make it easy for pedestrians to cross the junction,pedestrians have to really struggle in their absence, says Madhu Rane,a resident of Dahanukar Colony.

The work,scheduled to end in March,is expected to be completed by October. PMC executive engineer Vijaykumar Shinde said the shifting of BSNL,MSEDCL cables and a few trees had caused the delay. He said the work of laying down tiles is in progress,levels are beingf made for steps.

Many senior citizens have to cross this junction for various reasons; to go to banks,to nearby hospitals and a few to meet friends staying across. I have to depend on someone to take me to the hospital barely 800 metres from my house. Had it been a straight road,I would have managed to walk,but crossing this busy junction alone is difficult, says Digambar Padhye,74.

Residents have also demanded proper levelling of the road. A part of the road dug up for the subway has been levelled haphazardly. We hope the road is redone properly after the subway is completed, one of them says.

They are,however,happy with the concretisation of Dahanukar Colony main lane,which is going on in full swing. Concretisation would mean more space for traffic,parking and footpath for pedestrians. The PMC must,however,keep a tab on encroachments, says Madhav Gangal,one of them.

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