Tapi heritage walkway in dark

SURAT: Natubhai Patel, 75, takes his grandchildren to the heritage walkway on Tapi river every day after dinner. He remembers the old days when he used to visit the Hope Bridge every evening along with his wife and sit in front of the Tapi river munching on the 'dana-chana'. From the past fortnight, Patel has stopped visiting the walkway as there is no electricity there.
Many from the walled city prefer visiting the heritage walkway during the night hours to spend quality time with their friends and family members, enjoying the cool breeze from Tapi river.
However, the walkway remains deserted after evening hours, with just couple of residents strolling in the dark.
There is no electricity on the walkway for last fortnight. Despite complaints from the residents in the walled city, the light and energy efficiency cell of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is yet to fix the problem.
Javed Multani, an advocate residing in Shahpore said, "I take my children to the heritage walkway in the evening. Since there is no electricity on the walkway, the safety of children and my wife is compromised. Thus, I have stopped going to the walkway."
Shailesh Prajapati, a resident of Chowk Bazaar said, "I have been calling the electricity department of SMC from the last few days regarding the electricity problem at heritage walkway, but in vain. Nobody cares to listen."
Asked about the electricity issue, executive engineer of light and emergency efficiency cell of SMC, M N Chaudhary was unaware.
"I will ask my team members to check what has went wrong with the lights on heritage walkway. I don't think this issue is worth reporting," said Chaudhary.
For many in the city, the heritage walkway resembles the historical Hope Bridge. It evokes a sense of nostalgia among the elderly and have generated greater enthusiasm among youngsters in the walled city and Adajan who are always keen to experience what their hometown looked like in the past.
Since it was thrown open for the people on April 3, 2015, the Heritage Walkway has been attracting visitors in hordes.