Citing Metro corridor, BMC puts expansion of the ROB up to Poonam Nagar on hold; project cost up from Rs 198 crore in 2009 to Rs 300 crore
Looks like the Rs 6,208 crore Dahisar-Andheri Metro has derailed BMC’s plan to extend the remaining arm of the Jogeshwari rail-overbridge (ROB) — passing over the Western Express Highway (WEH) — up to Poonam Nagar on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR).
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Earthmovers scattering debris on the vacant plot meant to erect piers and pillars for extending the ROB
“Keeping in mind the elevated Metro corridor — passing through the WEH — the plan to stretch the existing ROB up to Poonam Nagar has been kept on hold. To execute it, we’ll have to redesign the structure in such a manner that the structure passes over the Metro tracks and the JVLR flyover,” said a BMC officer.
Deterring encroachers
Despite uncertainty looming large over the project, the BMC is dumping debris on the open space meant for launching piers and pillars to deter squatters.
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When this correspondent visited the spot yesterday, he witnessed debris being scattered using earthmovers.
“We observed that squatters had started moving on the vacant plot. With the future of the project in limbo, we have decided to do landscaping on the vacant spot to save it from encroachers,” said an officer present at the spot.
Project in limbo
The project has been delayed due to various reasons in the past and its construction cost has increased from R198 crore in 2009 to Rs 300 crore.
Now, with the Metro corridor passing through the WEH, the project is likely to remain in the cold storage.
Sources from MMRDA claimed that constructing the ROB over the Metro corridor and then taking it over the JVLR flyover is a mammoth task for the BMC for which it will need to overhaul the existing design.
Official speak
Commenting on the issue, Additional Municipal Commissioner SVR Srinivas said, “We have cleared the encroachments. The decision about extending the ROB is yet to be taken, as the MMRDA is coming up with Metro on the WEH. We met the MMRDA officials a few days ago and they have agreed to provide us a new design for the bridge that would pass over the Metro and JVLR flyover. Further decision will be taken after receiving this new design.”
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