This story is from January 10, 2015

Delay in Chromepet subway work forces commuters to cross tracks

Thousands of commuters, mainly college students, are forced to cross the railway tracks in Chromepet daily risking their lives as work on a vehicular subway continues to be delayed.
Delay in Chromepet subway work forces commuters to cross tracks
CHENNAI: Thousands of commuters, mainly college students, are forced to cross the railway tracks in Chromepet daily risking their lives as work on a vehicular subway continues to be delayed.
When complete, the subway in Radha Nagar, now partially constructed and filled with stagnant water, is expected to ease the woes of commuters. But residents of the area complain that the project is taking forever to complete.
The facility is now covered with undergrowth and has turned into a garbage dump, they say.
"Thousands of students cross the tracks at great risk. The authorities must complete the subway at the earliest," said Amisha Shankar, a student.
Others say the only viable link to the arterial GST Road for thousands of residents in Radha Nagar and surrounding localities is through the dangerous railway crossing. The MIT flyover is an option but it takes longer. "The eastern side of Chromepet has developed fast and there are two colleges there - Madras Institute of Technology and Shrimathi Devkunvar Nanalal Bhatt Vaishnav College for Women. But there is little access to students of those institutions from these areas," said M Anbuselvam, a trader.
Students of Vaishanav college who use the MIT Flyover from Radha Nagar said they had to travel nearly 4km extra.
V Raghavan, councillor of the ward, admitted to the delay in the work being completed. "Now that the railways has completed its part of the project work on the remaining portion will begin in the next couple of months. The subway would soon be thrown open to the public," he said.
He said the authorities were keen on providing amenities to the public and would stick by their word.
"There will be fewer traffic jams once it is open as the railway gate is frequently closed," Raghavan said.
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