The civic body and railways have gone on a panic mode as pictures showing the poor shape foot overbridges (FOBs) go viral. To avoid risks the authorities are now shutting down bridges.
The recent ones being the Mumbai Central and Dombivali bridge that will be shut today and April 1 respectively. The joint inspections of 73 FOBs across Mumbai and its metropolitan region, are being carried out by different civic bodies and Railway authorities.
Part of the Churchgate end FOB at Mumbai Central station will be shut today. "We will be carrying out major repairing and strengthening of this FOB and it will open for usage on April 15. This FOB will remain open for commuters for east side. Passengers can also use the north FOB during this period," said Ravinder Bhakar, chief PRO. Western Railway.
Similarly the Central Railway too will be shutting down the FOB at Dombivali station. "Work on the new six metre wide FOB will replace this one from April 1. Passengers are requested to use other two FOBs available at Dombivli station until the new FOB is ready," Sunil Udasi, chief PRO, Central Railway.
The CR will also dismantle the Kasara end FOB at Kalyan station on March 31. For this a mega block between 10.30 am to 4 pm will be carried out. Other FOBs that are under repairs are at Dadar, the BMC maintained public FOB leading to flower market have been shut down.
The ones at Malad, once again BMC bridge, will remain shut for three months upto June 28 for major repairing. The WR have also closed down the FOB at Khar for 60 days for repair works, which shall reopen on May 18. The railways had received complaints related to bridges at Dadar, Ghatkopar, Bhandup, CSMT, Malad, Kalyan, Titwala, Panvel and Matunga.
Sanjay Darade, chief engineer of bridge department of BMC said that we will soon appoint a firm for fresh audit. He added that three dilapidated bridges were already pulled down. "After the fresh audit report, we will soon table proposal before the standing committee and complete the work on urgent basis," he said.
