Title - Work on Rangarajapuram pedestrian subway to begin

CHENNAI: Work on the pedestrian and two-wheeler subway under the Rangarajapuram flyover in Kodambakkam will begin soon. The subway will allow commuters to reach Mambalam from Kodambakkam in less than five minutes and help prevent deaths on the railway track.The Chennai Corporation council on Monday approved the issue of work orders to construct the subway. The subway will be built at a cost 1.4 crore. "The subway is just 100m. It is a 50m stretch on either side—Station Border Road and Bazullah Road—of the railway station," said a corporation engineer. It will allow commuters to walk to T Nagar in under five minutes.The subway is a replacement for an erstwhile railway crossing, which allowed pedestrians and two-wheelers to drive across the tracks safely. The crossing was removed two years ago for the construction of the flyover. This was one reason why residents opposed the flyover."People who take public transport were forced to cross the tracks to walk to T Nagar," said a resident of Station Border Road. "Autos would charge 30 to drive over the flyover and drop us in T Nagar," said Ganesan. The situation led to at least five people losing their lives on the tracks between October and December last year. Police were unable to stop people from crossing the tracks.The construction of the subway was delayed because Rangarajapuram flyover itself faced major delays and was opened only in October 2012. The subway too required some work by the Railways. "The land under the railway track belongs to them, so work there should be done by them," said the engineer.

The new subway will be built of cement concrete, and will allow two-way traffic of pedestrians and two-wheelers. "The subway will have a pavement," said an engineer. The construction is expected to be completed within nine months.

Residents, however, said the subway should be built in a way that autos and small cars don't misuse it. "Once autos start misusing it, it will not be safe for pedestrians," said Arvind G, another resident.