'A socio-economic cultural challenge'

Peddar Road flyover continues to divide

Currently, it is the most controversial piece of infrastructure in South Mumbai and it has not even begun.


Peddar Rd flyover designer, Atul Bhobe

The designer of the Peddar Road flyover, or the viaduct as it is technically called Atul Bhobe, Managing Director, S N Bhobe & Associates, speaks about a bridge that has SoBo simmering.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: Have you designed any other flyovers in the city or are you in the process of designing any other right now?
Ans: We have made the conceptual design. Detailed design of the work will be taken up by the contractor who will be appointed for the design-build contract, which means that this contractor will translate our concept (with specifications) of the flyover into concrete reality on the ground. We (S N Bhobe & Associates) have designed more than 25 bridges in the city and have just completed the design review and construction supervision of flyovers on the Ambedkar Road.

Q: Do give me the dimensions of the Peddar Rd flyover in layman's terms...
Ans: It is 4.1 km long and would approximately be at a height of a five-storey building. It has two lanes on either side so it will carry four lanes of Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) traffic.u00a0

Q: The flyover has noise barriers. What are these noise barriers and would they block light (sunshine) from coming in to people's homes?
Ans: These are sound barriers, not light barriers. They will not prevent light but only cut off sound and reduce noise levels. Details can be availed fromu00a0 Dr Umesh Kulkarni, Environmental Consultant to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for work. Dr Kulkarni clarified that, "the sound barriers would be translucent, which means the residents would be able to see outside, but those on the flyover would be unable to look into homes of the residents."u00a0
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Q: Pollution is a huge concern for residents, would this flyover address that?
Ans: The flyover has something called air purifiers. Once again, details can be availed from Dr Umesh Kulkarni. Kulkarni said, "Air purifiers are going to be put at distances of 100m or a little further apart throughout the flyover to tackle emissions and pollutants."u00a0u00a0u00a0

Q: There is trepidation that the flyover would spoil the skyline, especially near the Chowpatty beach...
Ans: There are no flyover piers on the Chowpatty beach and it also does not touch Nana-Nani park. Least disturbance to traffic, environment and surrounding populace are the prime concerns while deciding the design principles not just for Peddar Rd but for any work in populated urban India.

Q: How long (approximately) did it take you to design the flyover?
Ans: We are working on the project since 2006 when it was taken up by MSRDC for implementation.

Q: This flyover is hugely controversial because of the fierce opposition. Would you say this is one of the most challenging projects you have worked on?
Ans: Not really. The Sion flyover was technically more challenging because it had to be constructed very close to old structures and the same had to be preserved and monitored during construction. Many of the structures around the Sion flyover are load bearing/wooden floors, etc and it was a challenge to design and construct so close to these structures. We had to ensure the buildings do not vibrate or there are no cracks to adjoining structures. Besides, the Sion junction has turning movements in plenty and managing the traffic and its diversion was a major challenge. It was not possible to do the entire work offsite because of the site constraints and we had to work in situations like on top of running traffic. The Peddar Rd flyover is not as much of a technical challenge; it is more of a socio-economic-cultural one.

Q: Peddar Rd residents say the world is exploring other options like Sea Links and underground tunnels instead of flyovers...
Ans: Such options are studied in almost every project. They have also been looked at for Peddar Rd too but the cost benefit analysis, which in layman's terms simply means Value for Money (VFM) does not favour such solutions.


Dr Umesh Kulkarni showing an animated film of the flyover

Q: With residents and the authorities deadlocked over the Peddar Rd flyover issue, do you think one can reach a solution?
Ans: I believe that every problem has a solution. As engineers and planners we try to find solutions to engineering problems. Social and economic problems too have solutions but they need a lot of inputs from a wider cross section of society like politicians, administrators, citizens, media - every arm of society so to speak. We must find global solutions, which are right for the city, rather than looking at solutions, which may be right or wrong locally because what might not suit local residents could well be the right solution for the city. Seen in the right perspective, I think a solution could be achieved for the Peddar Rd flyover too.

Traffic Flow
Alternatives for South-bound city traffic while work on the proposed Peddar Rd flyover
is on:
From Haji Ali Junction to Tardeo-Nana Chowk-Wilson College-Marine Drive and farther on to South Mumbai.
From Bandra-Worli Sea-link to Mahalaxmi and Byculla, then to CST and further into South Mumbai.
From Prabhadevi to Worli Naka nd Mahalaxmi on to Byculla towards CST and South Mumbai.
Ambedkar Road available with all flyovers now completed for through traffic to South Mumbai.
For traffic, one lane of minimum 3.5m at Peddar Rd would be available in both directions.

Shout and protest if promises are broken
At a fractious public hearing held at Haji Ali last month, Dr Umesh Kulkarni from the Fine Envirotech Engineers (FEE) an environmental and pollution abatement firm, showed an, "animation film" as they called it, about the proposed flyover.
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Dr Kulkarni gave his presentation amidst shouts from the residents, while he was talking, that this was a, "farce" and they should be allowed to ask questions in the middle. It underlined the trust deficit between the residents who were opposed to the flyover and those giving the presentation.
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Dr Kulkarni says, "For all practical purposes, I have finished my presentation and it is there in black and white. I heard some of the shouts when I was presenting but these were done to divert attention from the real issues. If the residents do not believe what was said then, they are showing that they do not believe the Govt.
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The Govt. is not going to go back on its word. In any case, if all those pollution and visibility barriers that are promised are not put in, if the Govt goes back on its word, then that is the time to protest."

Dr Kulkarni also said that the JJ flyover passed quite close to residences and so did Sion flyover but nobody has the time to look into the houses.

Moreover, "On the JJ flyover, there are no visibility barriers and air purifiers, but they are going to be incorporated for the Peddar Rd flyover. The flyover must come, technically and legally, it is a requirement."