Mumbai: Wire rope fence on U-bridge to prevent riders from toppling

The U-bridge at Bandra Reclamation has been in news multiple times because of accidents, mostly of two-wheelers. Pic/Rane Ashish

The MSRDC has planned to secure the U-bridge along the Bandra Reclamation with wire ropes to prevent riders caught in accidents from falling off the 30-feet overpass. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) plans to use crash barriers similar to Brifen ropes installed on accident-prone Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

An official of the MSRDC said, "We have invited tenders for providing and fixing flexible crash-barrier wire rope on the left side of the U-bridge, on Mahim interchange. We are expecting a good response from the bidders." The contractor will have to complete the work within three months from the date of work order. The cost of the project has been estimated at Rs 15.51 lakh.

The U-bridge has been in the news multiple times due to accidents of mostly two-wheelers, thanks to a sharp turn. The accidents have also led to fatalities. The wire fence is expected to absorb the crash in case of an accident and prevent the rider from falling off the bridge.

Civic activist Mushtaq Ansari said, "The MSRDC's decision to install crash barriers on the new bridge is a welcome move. For a long time we had been demanding the authorities to install one. It would save many lives. The authorities installed rumblers near the sharp U-turn on the bridge, but it's not preventing vehicles or two-wheelers from slowing down, so we demand that these speed breakers are also fixed."

Rs 15.51L
Estimated cost of the project