Tambaram: Neglect of subway leaves pedestrians peeved

Chennai: The pedestrian subway connecting East and West Tambaram, built to replace a level crossing, now stands abandoned due to official apathy. Located 500 metres from Tambaram railway station, the subway was closed in mid-2023 after waterlogging and poor maintenance rendered it unusable.Built at a cost of 3.85 crore, the subway on Main Road has slipped into disrepair, and has now transformed into a den of unlawful activities. Strewn with garbage and liquor bottles, it remains inaccessible even during the day. "At night, people drink alcohol and sell ganja here. Drunken brawls have become a frequent occurrence, with men often seen engaging in fights ... this is truly not a space for women commuters at all," said R Murugan, a resident of Abdul Razzak Street in Tambaram.With the subway out of bounds, pedestrians, including senior citizens, are forced to use the foot-over bridge at the railway station. "There are no escalators, and the steep climb through stairs is a challenge for many, particularly for those travelling in express trains with heavy luggage," said Ganesh Babu, a resident from Varadharajapuram.Resident-activist Dayanand Krishnan criticised poor planning and lack of foresight for the problem. "Tambaram sees over three lakh daily commuters, yet this subway has remained underutilised. Proper lighting, signage, and a pumping system to address waterlogging are essential. If renovated, it could serve as a safe pick-up point, but anti-social activities must be curbed too," he said.Responding to complaints, Tambaram Corporation's deputy mayor G Kamaraj promised action. He said that police would be deployed for night surveillance and promised coordination with other govt agencies to resolve waterlogging and restore the subway in a short time.