Bengaluru: Every minute, hundreds of passengers pass through the railway subway in the Majestic area which connects the City Railway Station with BMTC and KSRTC bus terminuses.
What would happen if the power went off inside this subway? This dreaded scenario was exactly what happened on Wednesday between 11.45 am and 12.15 pm when thousands of passengers who were arriving from both sides of the underpass felt the heat and darkness. In the absence of cops, anti-social elements took full advantage of the situation.
It all started around 11.45 am when the lights in the subway unexpectedly went off. There was total darkness inside. Even though the regular street vendors who ply their trade on the subway claimed that lights went off because of load shedding and that the generator would kick in, power returned only by 12.15 pm.
Passengers who were forced to use this subway in the dark, were at the receiving end of acts of thievery by pickpockets and mischief by transgenders who beg in the area as well as harassment by sex workers, all misusing the opportunity. Pickpockets used the cover of darkness to rob passengers who were arriving in the city. Many passengers had a scuffle with them while a few lost their mobile phones, purses and watches, which they realised only after they reached the bus stations.
Even the beggars used the opportunity to pressurise passengers into giving them more money. A few street vendors tried to help the passengers by flashing their torches, which didn’t really help much.
A street vendor commented that power cuts are very common in the subway and that they plan to start the use of a generator. He also requested not to highlight the problem as the police may stop them from using the subway for their business. But it was the passengers who felt the heat the most. Mr. Shrikantha Adiga, a marketing professional who was rushing to catch the inter-city express between Bengaluru- Dharwad, was upset because he lost his smartphone.
"The subway was totally dark,” he recalled. “There is no other way to reach the railway station. Even though I shouted when someone snatched my smart phone, no one came to my help. As it was totally crowded and dark, the pickpocket easily escaped,” he said.
When contacted, an officer from South Western Railway said that they will take up the issue with the state government agencies. "Definitely we will make the subway vendor-free and ensure lighting arrangement 24X7," he assured.
