MARGAO: The three subways- one at Navelim and two at Nuvem, which were constructed to provide safety, have been rendered “defunct”, as the students and the general public are compelled to risk their lives by crossing the highways.
Lakhs of rupees were spent on the construction of these three subways.
On Wednesday, O Heraldo visited all the three subways and found them in a pathetic condition.
Electricity lamps inside the subways were broken with wires hanging all over. Electricity meter boxes were rendered non-functional and roof tiles were damaged.
Speaking to Herald, residents from the locality complained that these subways are of no use during monsoons as they get flooded.
Students and the public shy from using the subways due to their pathetic condition, which has led to traffic chaos at the above-mentioned accident-prone spots.
It may be recalled that the subway at Navelim was made operational following a lengthy struggle by the citizens. However, at present hardly anyone uses it. The same was constructed keeping in mind the heavy traffic flow on the highway causing difficulties for locals, especially students to cross the road.
Uday Salelekar, a rickshaw driver at the nearby rickshaw stand told O Heraldo that students prefer to cross the road instead of using the subway.
“Hardly a few are seen using the subway, besides the general public. There is no light inside and hanging electric wires pose danger,” he added.
He said that there are several school institutions in the vicinity of Navelim and hence traffic chaos during the morning and afternoon hours has become the order of the day.
“The school management needs to instruct their students to use the subway instead of risking their lives by crossing the highway,” he suggested.
The subway near Holy Rosary Convent High School at Nuvem, which was inaugurated in 2010, is in a pathetic condition. Garbage is seen dumped inside the subway.
“I don’t know why the students and their parents do not prefer to use the subway over here. Hardly, a few use the subway. Maybe the pathetic condition of the subway has forced the students to avoid using it,” said Pratap Shet, an employee of a hotel located in the close vicinity of the subway.
O Heraldo visit revealed dusty and dark conditions inside the subway as the electricity meter box was broken and roof tiles damaged at many places.
However, the subway opposite Nuvem church subway is mostly used by the faithful, who visit the church and not by students.
“Students hardly use the subway to cross the highway, but people who attend masses, funerals and death anniversaries do. They use the subway to go to the cemetery located on the other side of the Church for prayer services,” said a resident from the locality.
He informed that the subway, which was made operational in 2003, gets flooded during monsoons.
The citizens complained the subway’s non-maintenance has given an opportunity to the students not to use it.
Gautam Salunke, Police Inspector of Margao Traffic Cell said that he held meetings with the educational institutions concerned wherein he requested them to instruct their students to make best use of the subways.
“All these three subways are constructed at the places, which were identified as the accident-prone zones, mostly for the safety of the students. It will be a pity to say that these subways are not maintained properly by the local bodies and the authorities concerned,” he added.
