Central Railway (CR) has failed to keep the promise that it made to the Maharashtra government about starting work on a foot over-bridge at Vikhroli by January 15.
Government officials have said that they would take up the matter with the CR general manager. Public works department minister Chhagan Bhujbal told DNA that he was in Delhi and would check the status of the project once he is back in Mumbai.
Following the death of three commuters on railway tracks in Vikhroli and the subsequent public outcry, Bhujbal and home minister RR Patil had blasted railway officials and threatened criminal action against them if they failed to complete the project within the time frame. The railways had promised that they would begin work by January 15 and complete it by May 2011.
However, there is no sign that the work has begun.
Divisional railway officials confirmed to DNA that they had begun the process, but it had been delayed. “We have issued tenders for the project. Advertisements for the same were first published in December 2010, and the last date for collecting tender documents is January 31. The bids will be opened only on February 1,” an official said.
Officials said that the project had been delayed due to several factors, including shortage of sand in the market.
The railways have stationed Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel at the level-crossing. But the officials, too, were found listening to music instead of alerting commuters (DNA, January 13, 2011).
“The state government should pull up the railways for not sticking to their promise. They simply announced dates without any planning and this shows the railways’ seriousness about the issue,” Vinay Chaudhari, a resident, said.
Subhash Gupta, member of the National Railway Consultative Users’ Committee, said that projects do take time to start and complete. “If the railways have promised to build the bridge, I am sure they would begin it,” he said.
