Chennai: Stench is the first thing that greets pedestrians entering the subway on Anna Salai, followed by leaky walls, dim stretches and a loose drainage cover that forces commuters to watch their step.The subway, opposite Higginbothams, is used by thousands of pedestrians, connecting them to multiple modes of transport, including the LIC bus stop and autorickshaws. “They cleaned the subway recently. But many lights don’t work. Inside a subway, even at 12 noon, you need good lighting,” said Arumugam K, an office-goer. Of around 24 lights inside the subway, only about six were working, and among those many flicker.The walls are leaking. Stagnant water remains along the subway’s boundary with the road even after a day of rain, adding to the seepage and foul smell inside, commuters said. A loose and uneven drainage cover also poses a tipping risk to pedestrians.“After the well-kept Metro subways became more popular, users of this subway have reduced. But this is no reason for neglect of public infrastructure,” Arumugam said.For women, the poor upkeep of the subways is adds another layer of concern. “I have been harassed in the subway. I’d rather cross the road if there were an option,” said college student Swarna M. The nearby LIC Metro subway is often crowded during peak hours, so she prefers this subway when she needs to catch a share-auto, as it is more convenient. “The subway must be hygienic. The lights must also be fixed so we can use it without fear,” she said.State Highways Divisional Engineer Thirunavukkarasu said the department would undertake maintenance work before the northeast monsoon. “We will fix these issues soon,” he said.
