The Times of India                   07.03.2013

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation opens Phugewadi subway for pedestrians

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has opened the subway under the eight-lane Mumbai-Pune highway stretch at Phugewadi near Dapodi. The subway had been locked since several months and was opened after this paper highlighted the issue in its Sunday edition (March 3)

Pedestrians and school students who faced a major risk while crossing the 61 metre highway, can now use the subway, which was built during the highway widening work four years ago.

Earlier, the PCMC had painted a pedestrian crossing right over the subway instead of opening it. However, there were no traffic signals on the road warning motorists to slow down for pedestrians.

Hundreds of people cross the highway stretch at Phugewadi as there are a school and a commercial mall located nearby. People also cross the road to reach the bus stops on either sides of the eight lane road at Phugewadi. The subway is a safe alternative now for the pedestrians to cross the road.

A traffic official pointed out the need to have a guard in the subway so that the pedestrians, especially school students would feel safe. Locals complained earlier that the subway was not safe for women and girls as the lighting was inadequate and there was no guard. However, the place now has adequate lighting. Incidentally, the PCMC has placed guards in the subway at Chinchwad.