Newly built subway lies unused

by Glenn Costa
Posted on 2009-02-07
PANAJI - The newly built subway transversing the NH-17 opposite the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim lies forlorn and unused, as people still cross the highway dangerously risking life and limb and defeating the very purpose of the subway.
The imposing 20-mt wide and 62-mt-long subway was inaugurated by the Speaker, Mr Pratapsing Rane on January 26 and has a provision for 24 commercial shops of 9 sq mt each.
The structure’s awarded cost was Rs 7,18,28,955.94, work commenced on February 11, 2007 and was completed on January 25, 2009, according to the GSIDC.
Along with the subway work, the work of the highway was also taken up and this has turned the situation all the more critical as with the improvement of the highway the vehicles now travel at greater speeds. But this does not seem to deter the people as even families with young kids can be seen literally dodging traffic to get to the other side.
The authorities have put up dividers but the work is still half-done and at present the hustle and bustle continues outside the GMC on the roads as the subway and its shops lie unused. “Just the other day a car hit a woman,” says a roadside vendor, Ms Jyothi (name changed).
Another problem is that there is no bus bay and the buses stop right on the road. People crowd around while on the other side some more try to cross to catch the bus. A commuter, Mr Raj (name changed) said that they have to run across as many times the buses see a large crowd and do not stop.
“The subway is far away and too dark. There is still nobody in there,” says another daily commuter, Ms Mary (name changed). She is emphatic, “I am not alone. Everybody does it.” Concedes the PWD engineer, Mr J Chimulkar, “The electricity connection has still not been received.”
A round of the subway reveals that some couples already are using it to get some private time out, as there are hardly any people. The shops too are still closed as they have not been tendered out. “They will be tendered out after the NHAI gives us the permission for the same,” says Mr Chimulkar, though he says that he does not anticipate any problem.
Some of the vendors say that they have received notices from the panchayat to move from there with one saying that they were supposed to have been shifted on February 4. “We were asked to move out,” says Ms Jyothi, but even after the date no one has come back to us. However, a shop owner, Mr John (name changed), occupying the same premise for the past 17 years says that he has not been approached at all. He says that on the contrary he has approached the authorities but nothing has been done. Among the shops there is also a horticulture gadda and another one under a government scheme.
Shopkeepers say that initially they would have problems but once everything is properly done things should be okay but want some things to be finalised as quickly as possible.
According to sources the 62-mt subway consists of three staircases and three ramps for entry and exit, each ramp is 7-mt wide and 26-mt long. The ramp is followed by a 12-mt passage and a 13-mt long staircase on the other end. Waterproofing along the outer periphery of the subway has been done for keeping the subway waterproof.
An anti-skid floor for ramps and stairways has been used. Barrier-free access has been provided along with ramps for physically challenged people. Besides, adequate night lighting, transparent acrylic sheet roofs, over ramps and staircases have been fitted to allow natural daylight inside the subway.
The subway has been also fitted with two pumps to pump out water if required. Two inverters have also been fitted to provide standby power supply with backup of a minimum of six hours in case of a power failure.