The New Indian Express 06.09.2010
Civic body seeks help for subway at Alandur
CHENNAI: To fulfil the long time demand of the people of Adambakkam for a pedestrian subway on Masthan Ghori Street, Alandur Municipality has urged the State government and the Southern Railway to build an underpass on a cost-sharing basis.Ever since the railway gate (Level Crossing-LC 15) on Masthan Ghori Street in Adambakkam was shut, some years ago, the locals have been demanding a pedestrian subway to cross over to the Alandur side.
Notably, about 2,000 students of AJS Nidhi Higher Secondary School on Ponniamman Koil Street on Alandur side (bang opposite Masthan Ghori Street on Adambakkam side) come from several residential colonies in and around Adambakkam.
After LC 15 was closed (after the construction of a subway at nearby Karuneegar Street in Adambakkam) the students are forced to cover extra distance and use the Karuneegar Street subway to cross over to Alandur.
A sizable number of students, however, risking their lives continue to squeeze themselves through the shut facility to get across to Ponniamman Koil Street.
A Duraivelu, Chairman, Alandur Municipality, told Express a resolution has been passed in the council urging the State Highways Department and Southern Railway to build a pedestrian subway at this point.
“Nidhi school students will especially be benefited by the proposed facility. We hope the government will do this soon,” he said.
Municipal officials said projects such as subways, over bridges or pedestrian underpasses at railway locations are usually funded and implemented by the Highways and Railways.
According to estimates, the construction of a pedestrian subway to link Masthan Ghori and Ponniamman Koil Streets is pegged at Rs 1.56 crore.
