Jaipur: More than two years after they were built to provide a safe crossing for pedestrians, three subways at Jawahar Circle continue to remain largely underutilised, with many people preferring to cross the busy B2 Bypass through moving traffic.The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) completed the pedestrian subways in 2023 and inaugurated them in 2024 as part of the Jawahar Circle signal-free corridor project. The project also included the construction of 30 commercial shops inside the underpasses, but none have become operational so far.Several visitors and commuters cited poor maintenance, lack of activity and safety concerns as reasons for avoiding the subways.“We expected the shops to be open after seeing signboards outside, but they were closed. Looking at the condition of the subway, we decided to cross using the road instead,” said Abhilash, a tourist visiting the area.Pooja Meena, a commuter, said she avoids using the underpasses after dark. “The lighting is poor and the place feels unsafe in the evening,” she said.Many visitors also said they were unaware that pedestrian subways existed at the junction.A JDA official said the authority had conducted two rounds of auctions for the shops but failed to attract buyers. “We have tried auctioning the shops twice, but there has been no response so far,” the official said.Former JDA engineering director N.C. Mathur said pedestrians generally prefer the shortest route available. “People are unlikely to walk longer distances to use a subway and often choose to cross at road level instead,” he said.Road safety expert and executive director of Muskaan Foundation, Neha Khullar said, the removal of surface-level crossings after the junction was made signal-free left pedestrians with limited options.“People were expected to use the underpasses, but many continue to cross through traffic because the subways require longer walking distances and are less convenient. As a result, the infrastructure remains underutilised despite the public investment made in it,” she said.
