The new subway at Metro junction is swanky and aesthetically designed but not all pedestrians are impressed by facilities
As far as looks are concerned, the city’s latest and most intricate subway road crossing at Metro cinema junction does not fail to impress. The lighting is aesthetic and functional; the stone and ceramic tiles that cover the walls and floors are quite unlike the garish bathroom tiles used in the city’s older subway crossings and the fountains on the traffic circles above add greenery to the grey concrete of the roads. The absence of shops mean that pedestrians are not assaulted by the cacophony created by salesmen.
But as the first pedestrians stepped into the subway after it was inaugurated on Thursday, they found that the Rs 18 crore project that took three years to complete was not without flaws.
We visited the subway to check the facilities and get feedback from users. This is what we saw and heard.
FLOORINGS AND WALLS
The flooring in green Kadappa tiles is skid free and easy to clean. The walls are also covered in yellow and ochre coloured stone and tiles. There are steel railings on the stairs. But some pedestrians complained that the shorter flights of stairs do not have railings to support senior citizens.
LIGHTING
The main tunnels are illuminated by lights fitted into square niches on the walls that will hold advertisements. The ceilings are lighted by chandelier like back lights.
SECURITY
Though only a couple of guards were seen in the subway yesterday evening, more will join work to take the total to 20, including one near each of the four lifts and one near each of the nine exits. Yesterday evening, even as some nervous women wondered whether to step into the subway, only two guards were visible.
LIFTS
There are four lifts for pedestrians who find it hard to negotiate the staircases. The security guards will work as lift attendants. “We have been instructed to allow only senior citizens and handicapped people to use the lift,” said a guard on duty.
FLOODING THREAT
The floors of the entrances are almost at road level and it is possible that during heavy rains, water accumulated on the roads will cascade down the stairs. BMC officials however said that there are facilities to pump out water from the tunnels.
VENTILATION
Though the fans in the ventilation ducts were working on Thursday, most pedestrians said it was inadequate. The temperature in the subway was decidedly higher than the road above.
ite a surprise. Compared to the messy traffic on the roads above, this is very quiet and safe.
Danielle Morriswala French-American married to an Indian
