In run-up to election to State Assembly and prior to that, during Lok Sabha elections also, the citizens were promised many things. Among them was ease, yet the wait for opening of Somalwada subway is taking ages. This is despite the fact that construction work is over and even the road construction on Somalwada side stands completed. Yet, citizens are foxed as to why authorities are not opening the subway for vehicular traffic and why they have to bear with agony of taking a longer route to connect with Manish Nagar from Wardha Road and vice-versa. The tunnel connecting Manish Nagar to Wardha Road was conceived to improve connectivity and provide alternative to Manish Nagar railway under bridge (RuB). So the 190 metres RuB was constructed at Somalwada railway crossing and citizens residing on either part of the railway line were elated at the prospect of ending of the ‘long’ separation. But since last few months, the citizens observed that while work on the subway stands completed, yet there is no move to open the same for traffic.

 

The unavailability of Somalwada underpass has put pressure on the Manish Nagar underpass, which can only accommodate one side of the traffic. However, due to the closure of the Somalwada-Besa road, it was thrown open for vehicles from both sides, and same poses daily risk for commuters due to sharp turns inside the tunnel. ‘The Hitavada’ spoke with a traffic police officer who is aware of the issue. He commented, “The unavailability of options to reach to Wardha Road has resulted in heavy concentration of traffic along the Beltarodi-Manish Nagar stretch Road (on which the Manish Nagar Underpass is situated) resulting in traffic snarls. The opening of the Somalwada railway crossing underpass will help in dividing the traffic flow and ease movement in the Manish Nagar-Besa-Beltarodi area. Speaking on the inconvenience caused by the closures, Aakash, a resident, complained, "The authorities are testing our patience now. The amount of inconvenience that we (people living in the vicinity of the underpass) have faced cannot be expressed. The construction (of the underpass) is taking forever.

 

We have to divert to longer routes and even those routes are trafficked.” Another resident, Om Bakshi commented, ‘I have asked the people working on the site many times as to when the underpass will open. A few weeks ago, they informed me that the road next to the underpass towards the Somalwada side is causing the delay. I do not know whether that is the reason or not but if it is, then it clearly shows the lack of co-ordination between different departments.” ‘The Hitavada’ visited the spot and interacted with officials at the site and they said that except for affixing of pavements (and several pipelines therein), the road next to the underpass towards the Somalwada side is ready and fit for vehicular movement. This clearly indicates the miscommunication that prevails within the administration. The delay in opening of Somalwada underpass has equally troubled businesses located alongside the subway. Shops on either side have complained that the absence of flow of traffic has caused a massive dip in footfalls. This has negatively impacted their revenue. The problem was made worse when roads on either side went under construction simultaneously. This blocked even the residents from visiting the shops for sourcing their regular items. In a conversation, Amit Menghare, an owner of a shop situated alongside the underpass road, said, “The labourers and the officials working here informed me that the underpass would open before the election.

 

They then changed their stance and said that the underpass could not be opened due to the pre-election Code of Conduct. Now even though the elections are through, the road remains inoperational. I am eagerly waiting for the road to re-open as it will bring in customers.” The delay in the opening of the Somalwada underpass highlights a critical issue: the lack of effective co-ordination and transparency between different agencies involved in infrastructure projects. While Maha Metro may have fulfilled its construction obligations, the lack of clear communication with the Public Works Department (PWD) and the public regarding the timeline for opening has exacerbated the situation. ‘The Hitavada’ reached out to Akhilesh Halve, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Communication, Maha Metro. He said only minimal work remains on the subway, and then their role ends. The decision of when to open it lies in the hands of the Public Works Department (PWD).