Mumbai: BMC throws another obstacle for Marine Drive jaywalkers

Pedestrians cross over a broken barrier. Pic/Ashish Raje

After its experiment of installing barricades on the median at Marine Drive to hinder jaywalkers a month ago proved a failure, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will add a horizontal strip to the upper side of the barriers, grow a dense green hedge and install barbed wire to keep the pedestrians from crossing the busy stretch.

This newspaper has been highlighting how the civic body started installing barriers on the median in July at a cost of Rs 84 lakh despite a similar attempt at Girgaon Chowpatty having failed. The lack of pedestrian crossings on the long stretch also remains an issue.

Various resident associations had been constantly demanding the barricading of medians to prevent jaywalkers from jumping over them in the middle of the road, which sees heavy traffic. After residents continuously followed up with the BMC, the latter came up with a plan without discussing it with the association and started installing barricades in mid-July.

The barrier offers zero resistance to citizens at Marine Drive on the weekend

As per the plans, the barricade strips were supposed to be installed on the divider from NCPA to Princess Street Flyover to stop pedestrians from crossing the road. mid-day had reported how the move wouldn't yield any results, as the same solution hasn't worked out at Girgaon Chowpatty. As expected, people are still seen making their way through the gaps or climbing over the barricade to cross the road. Even local residents opposed the move. Now, the BMC officials have discussed the issue with residents and found their suggestions useful.

"The design of the median was not practical. However, we were informed that this is the design that had been approved by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, tenders had been issued and work had already started. We request the corporation and government departments to kindly take our opinion before any development activity is planned for our area before it is too late," said Ashok Gupta, president of Marine Drive Citizen's Association.

He added, "The corporation has accepted our suggestion of adding one more strip across the vertical metal rods. Also, the rods have to be affixed securely to the median so that they cannot be uprooted. The barriers will have a single colour approved by us. There should be no gap anywhere, not even near light poles. A dense green hedge has to be grown in the median below the rods and finally, a single steel barbed wire might have to be wound around the rods if the public still abuses the fence installation."

In the absence of a zebra crossing or bridge, pedestrians cross the stretch via a broken portion of the barrier Pics/Ashish Raje

Jaydeep More, assistant commissioner of A ward, which comprises Colaba, Fort and Marine Drive, said, "We discussed the issue with the residents and we will strengthen the barrier with one more strip on the upper side of the barricade. The existing rods are good but the jaywalkers removed some before curing time. Now, we will use barbed wire as a first precaution so that the rods get cured and are fixed well. We will even plant shrubs/ornamental plants so that there will be no space on the median to place one's foot'. We will even plant shrubs/ornamental plants so that there will be no space on the median to place one's foot."

More added that there isn't any need for signs to show the next crossing as people from outside the city don't jump over medians. "These are the regular visitors who know where the crossings are but still opt to jump on the median," he claimed.

However, there is no zebra crossing, subway or foot overbridge (FOB) on the almost-one-kilometre-long stretch. "The BMC should look into solutions for the pedestrian crossing also. Otherwise, all efforts will be fruitless," said a resident of Nariman Point.

Transport expert A V Shenoy said, "It is necessary to provide either a subway or FOB if pedestrian crossings are not feasible. You can't expect pedestrians to walk a kilometre to cross the road."

Rs 84l
Cost of erecting barrier