Just across, it’s a long way for pedestrians

Take any stretch in the city and it has become next to impossible to cross to the other end

The subway in Koti, now housing book stalls. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

If footpaths are in a pathetic shape in the twin cities at most places putting the pedestrians in danger, crossing the main roads that are getting busier every day is nothing less than risking one’s life.

Take any thoroughfare and it has become next to impossible to cross over all through the day and most of the night too.

Very few designated pedestrian crossings with barely visible markings have been of help. Subways had surfaced more than a decade ago, two of them at Koti and RTC Crossroads, only to be shut down for various reasons without serving the purpose for which they were set up.

In an irony of sorts, a couple of years ago, the GHMC had transformed the Koti subway into a bookstall once the booksellers were evicted off the footpath adjoining the University College for Women following the High Court orders.

Few years ago, Foot over Bridges (FoBs) came up under the public, private partnership mode, first at Begumpet and gradually in places like Rasoolpua, St.Ann’s-Secunderabad, Ameerpet, Khairatabad, Dilsukhnagar, L.V. Prasad Eye and so on, about 11 of them.

Later, the government had realised that these needed lifts and escalators for the benefit of the old and infirm as well as the disabled but except for the FoB at the eye institute near the KBR Park and lifts at the Malaysian Township and Filmnagar nothing happened.

Incidentally, the municipal corporation took over FoBs at Secunderabad, Rasoolpura, etc., after the contract period was over but did not bother to install any lifts or escalators.

Now, because of the Metro Rail construction, FoBs at Begumpet, Rasoolpura, St.Ann’s, Ameerpet, Khairatabad and Dilsukhnagar, are to be removed without any indication where they are to be shifted.

Proposals to build FoBs minus the revenue angle on the Kukatpally road and on the Tank Bund by a few agencies too did not find support in the civic body.

In the meantime, because of the Lok Ayukta’s direction the GHMC had asked agencies which built FoBs to install CCTVs, round-the-clock security, sufficient lighting during night and eight-foot gap between the walking area and the hoarding put on it for better security.

Proposed subways

Plans are to build subways at Afzalgunj, Grammar School (Abids), Owaisi Hospital and Mehdipatnam at a cost of Rs.3.94 crore each. FoBs are to built at Mahaveer Hospital, Koti Hospital, Care Hospital, Banjara Hills; Zoo Park and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Road No.45, Jubilee Hills.