Citizens have complained that the Andheri subway is inadequately lit, forcing many to walk in the busy vehicular passage instead of on the path laid out for pedestrians, putting themselves at considerable risk.
Residents also told mid-day that during the monsoon season, traversing the subway is a nightmare as mud tends to accumulate on the pedestrian path, making it slippery. Besides, the underpass is also frequented by drunkards.
Rajesh Dey, the owner of a shop near the subway, said, “When it rains, water accumulates. People have no choice but to use the vehicular road, which is dangerous.” Gita Malakar said, “There’s no light sometimes and during showers, I don’t use the pedestrian path. It`s just not safe.” Kalpana Thorat, who works as a housekeeper, said, “I avoid the underpass at night. Drunk people frequent the subway, and with no proper lighting, no woman should set foot in it unaccompanied.”
Kalpana Thorat, housekeeper
Sudipta Gupta told mid-day, “If the pedestrian path was better lit, I would definitely use it more often. But I prefer to walk in the vehicular passage most of the time.” Rukhsana Shakeel Ansari said, “At night, it’s just too dark, so I don’t risk it.”
The issue is not unique to Andheri. According to an audit carried out by the Akshara Centre, an organisation and resource centre working for the empowerment of women and girls, many subways across Mumbai are plagued by poor lighting, waterlogging, and safety concerns.
The Watchdog Foundation, an NGO, has reached out to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), asking officials to improve the situation. Its foremost concern is the lack of proper lighting. It has also requested that the subway be frequently cleaned as it is constantly used. It believes these steps will help bring back a sense of safety and encourage people to use the pedestrian underpass again.
Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, the NGO’s trustee, who recently used the underpass, told mid-day: “It was so dark, it was impossible to see clearly without a torch. It’s scary that people have to endanger their lives using the vehicular passage because the pedestrian path isn’t safe.”
K West ward’s Assistant Municipal Commissioner Chakrapani Alle did not respond to mid-day’s queries till the time of going to press.
