Chinchwad subway needs better upkeep

PUNE: It's not a pleasant walk through this Chinchwad subway. The surroundings are unclean and pedestrians have find their way around in poorly-lit conditions because most of the tubelights have been stolen by vandals.
The subway is located near the office of deputy commissioner of police (DCP), zone III on the Pune-Mumbai highway. Speaking to TOI, Deepak Shirke, executive engineer, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), said that the PCMC repeatedly replaces the stolen bulbs and tubelights in the subway but people from the nearby slums steal them again.
"The thieves also steal the electrical fittings and we need to find an alternative. I will again direct the civic electricity department to replace the electrical fittings," said Shirke.
The PCMC built this subway, among others, to extend safe passage to pedestrians wanting to cross the Pune-Mumbai highway. Thousands of people visit the area near Empire Estate every day as there is a multiplex, shopping mall and shopping complex there. The auto cluster, post office and other offices are located on the other side of the subway.
Following widening of the 12-km highway stretch that falls within PCMC limits, traffic flows at speed on the concrete central lane of the highway.
Speaking to TOI, Anita Kharat, a resident of Chinchwad said, "The drain inside the subway is not cleaned properly and emits a foul smell. Not only do people have to put up with the smell but make sure that they do not fall into the open drain, since there is so little light inside the subway."
Uttam Jadhav, another resident, said, "The PCMC should try to keep a watchman in the subway during the day and night so that the fittings are not stolen."