The renovation work at the Tirusulam subway has been going on for a few months now, but air passengers and airport officials say they may not use the subway as it is unsafe.
The Tirusulam subway connects the airport and the Tirusulam railway station.
P. Mohanasundari, who works at a private company in Chennai and flies to Kolkata at least twice a month on official work, said, “Since my residence is at Chetpet, the fastest way to get home from the airport is by the train. I never opt for the train now because in July, a couple of people tried following me for a while when I returned from Kolkata late in the evening. Thankfully, the train arrived and I got away that day. Since then, I have apprehensions about using the subway. I would rather take a cab.”
Renovation work at the subway that had been poorly maintained for ages began a few months ago. The railway department undertook the repair works in order to induce people to take the subway instead of crossing the GST road. Yet, many say they require the presence of security guards in the subway to be persuaded to use it.
“I’m happy that the renovation work is going on. But what we need right now is security in the subway. Though I have been working at the airport for several years now, I prefer not to use the subway due to the lack of security,” said an official of the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Railway officials say that if the commercial space available at the station is exploited, then more people may use the subway. “Though we know that it is not safe here, we cannot help it. If food and beverage stalls are set up here, more people will use the subway and the situation may improve,” a railway official said.
Meanwhile, a senior police official said that guards would be posted in the subway soon and they would be on rounds constantly after 6 p.m.
