Golden showers in Diamond City!

SURAT: Chintan Patel, a sales executive residing at Yogi Chowk in Varachha, has to be extra vigilant when he passes through Sabras railway underpass at Delhi Gate, especially when the train is passing from above. Many a time, he has spoiled his clothes with stinking urine and filthy water droppings from the big openings. Thus, Chintan waits for the train to pass and drives carefully to avoid the smelly spill.
Welcome to the smart Diamond City, where thousands of denizens like Chintan have to deal with leaking railway underpasses at Sabras and Sahara Darwaja. As per an estimate, more than 20 lakh people are directly affected by the leaking underpasses for many years.
The scene is different at Sahara Darwaja railway underpass. Here the commuters have to stop because the passing trains mean filthy droppings. Every day, traffic comes to a grinding halt on both sides of Sahara Darwaja underpass as dozens of trains pass from there throughout the day, and even at night.
Girish Lehru, manager at a cell phone company at Parle Point, told TOI, "I am living in Parvat Patai, which is on the other side of Sahara Darwaja underpass. I had spoiled my clothes on numerous occasions, while on my motorcycle."
Shailesh Tanna, a resident of Umarwada, said, "The Sabras Garnalla (underpass) is a hell. A few days ago, a filthy thing dropped on my son, while I was going to drop him at the school. I pulled over my bike near a hotel and washed his head. That day, my son could not go to school."
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), which is preparing to make Surat a 'Smart City', is yet to find a solution to this issue.
SMC sources said repair and maintenance of railway underpasses is the responsibility of Western Railway (WR). In 2011, the civic body had deposited Rs8.52 crore for renovating the underpasses at Varachha, Delhi Gate and Sahara Darwaja. But the Indian Railways renovated only Varachha and Delhi Gate underpasses by 2013.
"It's WR's job to repair and maintain the railway underpasses. We understand the agony of the city residents, but we are helpless," says SMC city engineer Bharat Dalal.
He said the railway officials say renovation of Sahara Darwaja underpass could damage the utility lines passing from below. The WR still has Rs3.17 crore deposited by civic body with it. Dalal said, "We expect them to start the renovation work soon."
A WR official said, "We have referred the railway underpass issue to our engineering department. A proposal was sent to SMC for approval, but we are yet to receive the go ahead from it."