The foot overbridge (FOB) across Jawaharlal Nehru Main Road in Ashok Nagar does not seem to have many takers.
The facility, which is located near Government ESI Hospital on one side, and Ashok Nagar metro-rail station on the other, was inaugurated in September 2015. Over the years, it has remained grossly underutilised.
Some pedestrians say they avoid the FOB on account of what they call “steel staircase” and “entrance to the facility on the ESI Hospital side being located in an isolated place”.
So, these pedestrians prefer to cross the busy intersection of Anna Main Road and Jawaharlal Nehru Main Road in Ashok Nagar. Pedestrians frequent the spot because there are many commercial establishments, educational institutions and healthcare centres in the vicinity.
Though a continual movement of vehicles including MTC buses from K.K. Nagar and Ekattuthangal make it difficult for pedestrians to cross the stretch, they give a wide berth to the FOB.
“We have to cross J.N. Main Road to reach the staircase of the bridge near the hospital. So, we prefer to cross the road,” says S. Arun Kumar, a resident of Ashok Nagar. Residents suggest that the facility will find greater patronage if escalators are installed.
