Title - New Kovai junction subway needs to be modified to ease congestion

COIMBATORE: As the construction work of the much-anticipated second subway for the Coimbatore Railway Junction reaches its final stage, commuters are not very sure whether the new facility would even be utilized.

Since the narrow subway connecting the eastern and the western entrances to platforms often get congested, authorities decided to have a third entry point which led to the construction of the second subway. However, it is now feared that commuters would continue to use entry and exit points leading to the old subway as the new one has only one entry/exit point in the Thomas Park area which is another 400m walk.

"The two entry-exit points lead straight to the old subway and most passengers will not be ready to walk another 400m to reach the new subway," said a senior railway official. He said the road approaching the entry point of the new subway was narrow, making it difficult for vehicles to use it. "Thus, the purpose of easing congestion on the subway will not be served and the whole effort may just be wasted," said the official. In the absence of an additional entry-exit point to the new subway, it will hardly be used, he added.

"Passengers are forced to battle their way out of the subway during arrivals and departures. I myself have faced a few stampede like situations," said R Pandiarajan, an entrepreneur who frequently travels to Chennai. According to him, the congestion in the subway is a ticking time-bomb and if nothing is done to resolve the issue, a mishap is inevitable.

"A huge sum is being spent to build the new subway. It should be optimally utilised and taxpayers' money should not be wasted," he said. The subway, which is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 6.5crore, will have escalators and lifts for the elderly and physically challenged.

Speaking to TOI, Coimbatore MP and Railway Struggle Committee convenor P R Natarajan said a full-fledged third entry-exit point is needed to resolve the congestion issue. Asked about the possibility of another outlet in the new subway, the MP said: "It is possible to create another entry-exit point by buying the land adjacent to the main entrance which belongs to the Jamaath." Natarajan said he recently discussed the issue with district collector M Karunagaran. "There is also a possibility for creation of multilevel parking facility if adequate land is available," he said.

Struggle committee coordinator and secretary of the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC), R Raveendran, said the approach road would need to be broadened to make the third entry-exit point viable. "The authorities will have to acquire a patch of land near the Thomas Club area so that the new entrance can be fully utilised," he said. While the proposal to create an additional entry-exit point is still in its preliminary stage, the second subway is expected to be commissioned in another two to three months.

Coimbatore: With the construction of much expected second subway in the Coimbatore railway station reaching final stages, doubts have raised among the public regarding the maximum utilisation of this facility. The main eastern entrance and the western side entrance are the entry and exit points that connect with the existing subway, which provides access to the platforms. The point of contention is that majority of the people will continue to use these two entry and exit points that leads to the first subway, even after the second subway is commissioned as a full-fledged entrance near the Thomas Park area where the second subway is being constructed is absent.

"When these two entry and exit points leads straight to the existing subway, passengers will not opt to reach the second subway that lie about 500 metres far from these entrances", said a senior railway official. According to him, the present approach road connecting the second subway with the main road is narrow and it is difficult for vehicles to use it. "Under such circumstances, the second subway will become out of use and the purpose to ease the congestion at the present entry and exit points will not be served and the whole effort will become meaningless", he added.

While passengers who were coming out of the jam-packed subway are crying for a solution, the second subway that is under construction will not be an alternative in the absence of an additional entry and exit point that provides easy access to it. "Passengers are squeezing themselves in and out of the subway when trains arrive and depart. I have even personally witnessed few near stampede like situations", said R Pandiarajan, an entrepreneur who makes frequent trips to Chennai. According to him, the increasing congestion is like a ticking time bomb and stampede might happen one day or other.

"Crores of money is being spent towards the construction of the second subway. It should be optimally utilised and in no case taxpayers' money should be wasted", he demanded. It may be noted that this subway is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.6.5 crore and will also have escalators and lifts for the benefit of the aged and the physically challenged persons. Coimbatore MP and Railway Struggle Committee convenor P R Natarajan said that a full-fledged third entry and exit point is necessary to sort out the issue. "There are possibilities for creation of additional entry and exit point by buying the land belonging to the Jamaath that lies adjacent to the main entrance", he suggested.

Informing that he discussed the issue recently with the District Collector M Karunagaran, he said that this is the most desirable alternative. "There is also a possibility for creation of multilevel parking facility if adequate land is bought", he said. Struggle committee coordinator and secretary of Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) R Raveendran said that the existing approach road that connects the second subway with the main road needs to be broadened so that it will become a viable third entry and exit point. "For this purpose, necessary land near the Thomas Club area needs to be handed over to the railways so that this entrance can become full-fledged providing direct access to the second subway", he said.

As the second subway is expected to be commissioned in another two to three months, immediate steps should be taken. In any case, land is needed for the creation of an additional full-fledged entry and exit point and presently the proposal is still in its preliminary stages.