Mumbai: 45 days on, no progress in Malad bridge issue

Vehicles ply on the old bridge on SV Road in Malad West while the new lanes on either side of the bridge are yet to be opened. File pic

The BMC seems to be in no hurry to give some respite to motorists taking the bridge on crowded SV Road in Malad West. Two lanes on either side of the old bridge, which was declared dilapidated in 2019, are ready but not have been opened as the civic body is yet to confirm the compensation proposal for shops that sit on the alignment. mid-day had on November 9 reported that the process was yet to start. Following the report, the BMC initiated the process but the proposal is yet to be approved even after 45 days.

The 45-foot-wide bridge above a nullah on the SV Road was declared dilapidated in 2019 in an audit that was carried out after the collapse of the Himalaya foot overbridge at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The BMC thereafter designed two additional lanes on either side of the bridge and floated tenders three years ago. The construction began in December 2019, but the civic body did not finalise the compensation package or alternative accommodation for the shops on the alignment.

P North ward office has drafted a package and sent it to the civic body for approval. "We had started the compensation process as per the BMC's policy as the shopkeepers were reluctant to move to alternative locations. The proposal was sent to the accounts department and then the senior officials concerned. It is yet to be received by the ward office. It will also need a go ahead from the building proposal department. We will act as per the instructions from higher officials," said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of P North ward.

Also read: Mumbai: Long process to woo shopkeepers along Malad bridge commences

Civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal and Additional BMC Commissioner P Velrasu did not comment despite several attempts. The additional lanes have been ready for a few months and will help decongest the traffic situation. The old bridge can also be demolished and reconstructed only after the new lanes are opened for traffic. Meanwhile, heavy vehicles continue to ply on the dilapidated old bridge.

"We have completed the construction of the access roads on both sides of the bridge. It will solve the bottleneck issue. But there are structures that need to be cleared before opening it. The ward office has to clear it. We can start demolition and reconstruction [of the old bridge] only after this," said an engineer from the bridges department. The officials from the bridges department said that the bridge will be open within two weeks once the structures are cleared from the road. An asphalt road will be constructed to join the bridge and existing road.

2019
Year when the construction work started