A case in point is the subway at Tambaram that was built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). From vegetable and fruit sellers to flowers, clothes and the like, almost the entire space has been occupied by hawkers, leaving very little for the actual users. 

“During peak hours, it becomes difficult to walk through the subways. These hawkers are so possessive of their space that you can even face abuses if you try to walk too close to their spread,” said Murali K, who works in Tambaram. Once a regular user of the subway, Murali does not take it anymore. “I would rather wait longer and cross the road.”

Rainy days make the situation worse, said the few who continue to use it. “The vendors tend to leave rotten vegetables and other waste behind, which floats on the stagnant water after rains. Besides, seeking shelter during rains in the subways is also tough as there is no space,” said Saritha K, a student of Madras Christian College, Tambaram. 

Accusing the Highways Department officials of not taking the issue seriously, Kumaran, a resident of East Tambaram, said, “Why even build subways if it is not monitored? We as residents can’t do much to get rid of these hawkers. Besides, they constantly get into fights with each other, making it even more uncomfortable for pedestrians. There have been instances when the hawkers have also gotten into physical fights. How is one supposed to feel safe walking in these subways?” 

Subways, like pavements, are meant for pedestrians alone and it should be free from any form of obstructions – temporary or permanent. “This cannot be negotiable,” Kumaran said. 

However, an official from the NHAI maintained that they conduct inspections on a number of occasions and checked encroachments as well. “We have not received any complaints in the recent past. However, we will look into it,” the official said.