Get cyclists off Z-bridge at Matunga: Commuters

Occasionally the RPF takes action against the cyclists

Cyclists zooming past pedestrians while ringing their bells loud on the Matunga Z rail foot overbridge, that connects the eastern and western parts of the area, have turned into a menace.

Commuters now want the railways to put up thick barricades at the entrance of the bridge so that cyclists can't enter. While occasionally the Railway Protection Force (RPF) takes action, the problem still persists. The bridge is also not well lit, leading to safety issues at night. "The problem has become severe in recent days. It is technically a foot overbridge and the railways should take action against the cyclists. They ride their cycles very fast on the narrow bridge and keep ringing their bells. When pedestrians object to it, arguments and fights break out," said Sulakshana Iyer, a local commuter.

"This is an easy crossover point between the Central and Western Railway sections. But one cannot walk peacefully on the bridge. I have also seen the lighter version of electric bikes on the bridge. I don't know under which rail jurisdiction the bridge falls but I'm sure it belongs to the railways because it crosses over the Matunga workshop," said another commuter Advait Dixit. When mid-day visited the site, it found that cyclists have easy access to the bridge from the road over-bridge on the western side. On the eastern side, cyclists need to climb a staircase, so they don't take that route.

Another commuter Ravinder Kumar Senapati said that the authorities should put up thick barricades so that the cyclists can't enter. Both Central and Western Railway officials said that they would look into the matter and take necessary corrective actions. "We will take necessary action," said CR Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar.