Central Railway reinstalls barricades back on Matunga Z bridge

Barricades being reinstalled at Matunga Z bridge; (right) a bicycle parked on the bridge

In swift and prompt action, the Central Railway has reinstalled the bicycle deterrent barricades on the Matunga Z bridge two days after they were reported missing. mid-day had reported on Tuesday how the barricades put up after this newspaper's report first in December 2021 had now gone missing. Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar confirmed the development.

A Divisional CR official said, "There has now been an additional layer of the barricades and we will ensure that they stay in place."

Passenger association member Subhash Gupta who supported the cause said that they need to be installed on the Western Railway side also. "It is actually at the WR end that the foot overbridge is linked to the road bridge. There is no point having it at one end. The other day even after the barricades were placed, there was a bicycle tied on the bridge within the sealed area," he said.

Matunga Z bridge, the popular rail foot bridge between east and west Matunga, had become a menace with cyclists, food delivery boys speeding fast on it, inconveniencing regular commuters, who had sought that the railways put up strong barricades to discourage such usage. Commuter Advait Dixit had said that he had also seen lighter versions of electric bikes on the bridge.

After the barricades had been installed in December 2021 post this newspaper's report, there was a debate among commuters with another of them saying that there was no easy way to connect east and west Matunga for non-motorised two-wheeler riders and this was the fastest way and should be allowed.

Gupta said a foot overbridge is always built with pedestrian specifications as it is meant for walkers, and if there is more usage by other elements like two-wheelers etc, it could also be a risky affair.