Hawkers force public to choose road over subways

[1]

Thousands of commuters use subways near Park station and Chennai Central station during peak hours every day. But lack of hygiene, cramped stairs and the invasion of corridors by hawkers, literally push them to use the ever-busy EVR Periyar Salai to cross the road.

“Not just these pedestrian subways, even subways in other main junctions face the same problem. But these two subways — Park Station and Chennai Central, are significant as lakhs of pedestrians use them every day,” said a regular commuter Sa.Na. Kannan, who prefers crossing the road from Chennai Central Station to reach the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital.

Another regular commuter L. Shanthi who uses the subway laments that during peak hours, subways are cramped and it takes at least ten minutes to reach the other side. “Ripon Building, Chennai Central Station and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital are located in the junction and tens of thousands use these places but subways are poorly maintained,” she said.

Increasing vehicular traffic, especially during peak hours, makes the situation worse. “If using subways is a problem, crossing the road is also not that easy. At least hundred people gather near the Chennai Central Station signal and only after ten minutes or so we are allowed to cross,” added Shanthi. The subways are also properly illuminated, according to her.

A traffic constable deployed near the Central signal pointed out a board that reads, ‘Jaywalking is punishable. Please use subway’. “Though we ask people to use the subway, they prefer to cross the road. Many people gather near the signal and it’s hard to tell each and everyone to use the subway.

Every five minutes we stop the traffic and facilitate crossing. But during peak hours 9 am to 11 am and 6 pm to 7.30 pm, it becomes tough to handle the crowd,” said the traffic police.