According to Public Works Department (PWD) sources, a proposal asking for an interest-free loan of Rs 40 crore for construction of the subways was sent to MMRDA nearly a month back, but there has been no word on the proposal yet.

``I do not understand the delay in taking the decision. Rs 40 crore is not a big deal for the Authority,'' said a senior state government official. He claimed that the Authority was well aware of the need for the subways as a senior town planner from the Authority had been on the Jagtap Committee, which prepared a report on the issue last month. This report has called for the construction of 24 subways along three highways in a bid to do away with pedestrian crossings. Thecommittee zeroed in on these spots after spot visits and .. on the density of traffic.

``We found out that the number of accidents increased from north to south, hence we decided that the subways should be built on the southern end of the highways on a priority basis,'' said an official. Accordingly, 12 spots were decided upon: four on the Western Express Highway, seven on the Eastern Express Highway and one on the Sion-Panvel Highway.

Sources claimed that once the funds came through, construction would commence within a month. ``We expect to complete the first phase by early next year if the MMRDA cooperates with us,'' said an official.

Potential commercial exploitation of the subways have also been taken into account in the report, considering that the cost of construction for each subway is nearly Rs two crore. In fact, tenders for four subways at Priyadarshini Park, Agripada, Rajaram Nagar and Everard Nagar have been floated on a Build Operate and Transfer basis.

The report also called for makingprovisions for vehicular traffic in a subway at Mankhurd on the Sion-Panvel Highway. ``This will completely remove any bottlenecks in this junction which has more than two service roads, and three metre wide footpaths will also be provided for pedestrians,'' said a PWD official. This subway, to be constructed by the MSRDC, will have a clearance of nearly 4 metres which will allow the passage of single-decker buses towards Mankhurd railway station.

Finance has been a major stumbling block in the realisation of these grand projects. Since MSRDC is in a tight spot after raising bonds for the flyover project, the only agency that PWD minister Nitin Gadkari could turn to was the MMRDA. ``The Authority has been formed for the infrastructural development of the city. If this scheme does not contribute to development, I don't know what does,'' said an exasperated official.

Gadkari too seemed irritated at the lackadaisical response from the MMRDA. ``I have decided to request the Chief Minister, who is thechairperson of the Authority, to clear the proposal,'' he said.

However, MMRDA claims that the proposal is being processed. ``The proposal has reached us, but it is for the Authority to decide whom to give and when,'' said Ajit Varti, Metropolitan Commissioner of the Authority. He claimed that the final decision would be taken by the Board of Directors, which meets once in two months. ``A meeting is being scheduled next week, let's wait and see,'' he added.

Subways to be constructed in the first phase

Western Express Highway

1) Teacher's Colony
2) Agripada
3) Rajaram Nagar
4) Malpa Dongri

Eastern Express Highway

1) Everard Nagar
2) Priyadarshini (RCF) Circle
3) Siddarta Nagar
4) Chedda Nagar
5) Kamraj Nagar
6) Ramabai Nagar (Construction under progress)
7) Godrej Subway
Sion-Panvel Highway

Mankhurd (An MSRDC project)

Second Phase

Western Express Highway

1) Sankar Wadi
2) Vanarai
3) Ashanagar, Dattani Park
4)Devipada
5) Rajendra Nagar (Highway School)
Eastern Express Highway

1) Suman Nagar
2) Kannamwar Nagar
3) Pravin Hotel
4) Tagore Nagar
5) Navghar
6) Mental Hospital, Thane
7) Luiswadi, Thane