The Indian Express            06.11.2013

PMC to set up shops, CCTVs in unused subway on JM Road

With the subway near Modern High School on J M Road remaining unused for years due to security concerns, the PMC plans to start 10 shops there to ensure public presence and hence security for subway users.

The subway was constructed to provide easy road crossing for citizens, mostly children, with the Modern high school and college on one side of the road. Citizens find it difficult to cross the multiple-lane road, which sees a non-stop flow of speeding vehicles.

However, soon after it was opened for public in 2009, the subway — which has has three entry and exit points — received poor response. With poor lighting, it soon turned into a hotspot for miscreants. Residents also started dumping garbage here.

"There have been a lot of efforts to ensure citizens use the subway, who keep away due to safety issues. A murder attempt was reported in the subway a few months ago," said Uday Lokhande, Deputy Engineer, PMC's traffic department.

Boards to spread awareness were put up at the entry points and the lighting system was improved but nothing drew users. "Finally, it was decided that shops will be opened in the subway so that shopkeepers are present most of the time and attract shoppers, thereby keeping the subway buzzing," Lokhande said, adding that CCTVs will also be installed in the subway.

Resident Padmakar Chavan said there was a need for subway near the school but safety concerns stopped citizens from using it. "We take a risk by crossing the busy road instead of taking the subway," he said.

"I had thought the subway will be very useful for me as I get down at the bus stop and have to cross the busy road to reach college. But the subway is full of miscreants and I rather take a risk and cross the road than using the unsafe subway," said Suresh Dhumal, a student of Modern college, who comes from Aundh.

But now PMC hopes its efforts will provide citizens the confidence to use the subway.