Mumbai: Delisle Bridge a hit with motorists, miss with pedestrians

As Delisle Bridge fully opened to traffic on Thursday evening, motorists were elated due to the drop in travel time. However, local residents and pedestrians were upset about the missing footpath. Guardian Minister (Mumbai City) Deepak Kesarkar opened the final arm of the bridge in Lower Parel on Thursday evening.

During his speech, he ordered civic officials to put up barricades from Friday onwards to facilitate pedestrian movement on the bridge. Sources claim the BMC is still working on a footpath on the bridge.

A Motorist, Mukesh Pawar, said, "We have been waiting for this bridge for what seems like forever. This bridge will help reduce traffic from the Prabhadevi rail overbridge. Also, now we don't need to travel to Prabhadevi or Mahalaxmi to reach Worli from Currey Road. It will reduce at least 15-20 minutes of travel time."

Sadashiv Redkar, who travels daily from Chinchpolki to Sayani Road in Prabhadevi, said this bridge would reduce his travel time to 15-20 minutes. "Now, I can directly go to Sayani Road via this bridge," he said.

Residents have demanded a footpath on the bridge. Pic/Sameer Surve

Meanwhile, Ramchandra Ghatge, a resident of Currey Road, said, "Where is the footpath? There should be a footpath for pedestrians. Residents used the old bridge footpath for morning and evening walks. Also, office goers need the footpath."

Pramod Mistry, a resident of Currey Road, said, "This bridge will cut my journey from Currey Road to Worli by at least 20 minutes. But we need a footpath, too, here as this is a high footfall area."

Another local resident, Sagar Navlagi demanded that the BMC not only build a footpath but also start BEST bus services on the bridge, which had been stopped after the bridge was demolished. There used to be four bus routes going over the bridge earlier. The BMC has assured that bus services would resume soon.

Delays: The BMC closed the bridge for traffic in July 2018, after which its reconstruction was delayed due to various reasons including the pandemic and a shortage of gravel.

The arm from Junction of Senapati Bapat Marg Junction to Ganpatrai Kadam Marg toward Parel was opened for traffic on June 1, 2023. Then part of another arm towards N M Joshi Marg was opened on September 18. Later, the BMC gave assurances that the full bridge would be open for traffic by October-end. But it was delayed. Last week Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray opened part of the bridge.

But the BMC closed it claiming some work is pending. The police, registered cases under Sections 143, 149, 326 and 447 of the Indian Penal Code for forcefully opening the bridge. Civic authorities missed three deadlines for opening the bridge.

July 2018
Month bridge was closed