Mumbai: Barricades on Matunga’s Z bridge go missing

Three out of eight rods are missing on Monday. Pics/Rajendra B. Aklekar

The barricades installed last year to prevent entry of cyclists, including food delivery executives, on Matunga Z foot overbridge have disappeared in less than three months. The Mumbai division of Central Railway on Monday said it will investigate the matter.

The railways fixed eight rods on the bridge, the popular rail footbridge connecting east and west Matunga, on December 25, after mid-day highlighted the locals' demand for a barricade. "The barricades on the bridge on the railway premises have gone missing. It seems two of them have been cut up because the base is intact, but the rods are gone," a local resident who commutes regularly said.

"The rods started disappearing in early February, and as of today, about three of the eight rods are missing," he added. The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Mumbai division, had installed the rods after a joint survey with the engineering department identified black spots where bicycles had found entry onto the bridge. There were promises of regular monitoring. "We will investigate and fix the problem," said a Central Railway spokesperson.

After the barricades were installed, there was a debate among two sets of commuters. While one demanded the barricades, the other said there was no easy way to connect east and west Matunga for non-motorised two-wheeler riders. They said cyclists should be allowed, as this bridge was the fastest route. However, many cyclists were seen speeding on the bridge, inconveniencing pedestrians.

Railway officials had stressed that the bridge was categorised as a "foot overbridge" and that meant it was only for pedestrians. Subhash Gupta of Yatri Sangh Mumbai said an infrastructure asset should be used for the purpose it has been created. "A foot overbridge is always built with pedestrian specifications and if there is usage by other elements, like two-wheelers, etc., it could pose a danger to the bridge, especially considering it passes over a major rail workshop. Moreover, people complaining that it's the only east-west connectivity should ask the local elected representatives to build one," he said.