After initiating demolition and closure of dangerous bridges, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started awarding contracts to reconstruct them. The civic body has awarded a Rs 4.34 crore contract for the reconstruction of two foot over bridges outside the Marine Lines railway station, which is 22% more than the estimated value (Rs 3.27).
The bridges, once situated on the north and south side of the Marine Lines station, were crucial for pedestrian movement. The bridges, which were deemed "unsafe", were razed within a week after the Himalaya Bridge collapse near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT).
After the audit of 344 bridges across the city, the bridge was classified as C1 [under the BMC's classification of dangerous buildings], which means it was 'very dangerous'. After demolishing the part of the bridges over the road, the Bridges department started a tender process. While the estimated cost of both the bridges was around Rs 3.27 crores, the lowest bidder put the 29 per cent hight price. After negotiation, the BMC proposed to increase the estimated cost by 22%. Adding other charges that include water, supervision the final cost of the construction of the two bridges, the estimated cost now stands at Rs. 5.60 crores. The construction will be completed within 18 months.
"After the demolition of the Churni Road bridge, people of Girgaon used these bridges to reach the railway station. With these bridges demolished, most of the commuters of Chandanwadi Crematorium are now using the north-end bridge," said Rita Makwana, a local corporator, adding that she had sent a letter to the ward officer to repair these bridges before the audit.
"Demolition of the bridges have added to pedestrian woes," said Dinesh Singh, a resident of Prabhadevi for whom razing of the FOB proved to be a bane. "If the BMC carries out an inspection of these bridges on a regular basis, they will have a scope to repair the bridges rather than taking the extreme step of demolition and reconstruction."
In the earlier audit, the consultant found 14 bridges in dilapidated condition. After re-audit of the suburban bridges, 15 more bridges were found to be dangerous. Out of 29 bridges, eight bridges are already demolished. The two FOBs of Marine Lines were among them. The BMC started shutting down other bridges, which created a traffic jam on various streets. "The bridges are important links for traffic and pedestrian movement. We have started the tender process and are aiming to start re-construction work as early as the end of monsoon," said Sanjay Darade, Chief of Bridges Department, BMC. The BMC already cleared the proposals of construction of two FOBs in Kurla.
