Space under LBS Marg flyover is now a haven for scrap dealers

It seems that the instructions issued by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to keep open space under flyovers encroachment-free has fallen on deaf ears.

Over a month has passed after the inauguration of the LBS Marg flyover, but the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is yet to clear the encroachments that have mushroomed under it. It is now being happily used by local scrap dealers to store their paraphernalia.

Chavan inaugurated the 565-meter long and 17-meter wide LBS Marg flyover on August 10. At the function, city mayor Sunil Prabhu brought it to the notice of the CM that open spaces under various flyovers in the city are being encroached upon, making the spaces squalid and unclean.

Wasteland: Scrap dealers have taken over the empty spaces under the newly opened flyover, using it as their personal scrapyard. Pics/Sayed Sameer Abedi

After inaugurating the flyover, Chavan had instructed MMRDA and other agencies to ensure that the open space under flyovers are maintained properly and kept free of encroachment. But the situation beneath the LBS Marg flyover makes it evident that the CM's instructions were not followed.

The scrap dealers made the area their storage space even before the flyover was thrown open to vehicular traffic. This was brought to the notice of senior MMRDA officials who responded that they would take necessary action once the flyover became operational. Their encroachments were even removed for the opening of the flyover, but soon the scrap dealers reappeared. Part of the road has also been encroached, making it difficult and dangerous for motorists to negotiate the stretch.

MMRDA's take
MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawathkar said, "We would see to it that if at all there is encroachment under the flyover, it will be cleared at the earliest. We would also write to concerned authorities to take appropriate action."u00a0