For six months, pedestrians have been unable to use FOB on Sion-Panvel Highway after it got damaged. It has now turned into pick up point for eunuchs soliciting passing motorists and 'treating' them there
Sana, the ‘hottest’ operative at the FOB, is in high demand with motorists. Pics/Sameer Markande
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This may be the first time that a broken bridge is making the public ‘happy’. For six months, pedestrians have been unable to use the foot over bridge (FOB) on Sion-Panvel Highway after it got damaged and had to be dismantled. Instead, it now serves as a bridge to pleasure, with a group of eunuchs running a prostitution racket there, soliciting passing motorists.
The bridge had to be taken down after a trailer truck rammed into it on March 30. PWD officials dismantled the damaged structure and kept it aside at the outskirts of the city, near the Vashi octroi naka. At the time, the officials had said they would repair it within a month, but mid-day spotted the broken FOB still lying near the octroi naka on Tuesday night, serving as a brothel of sorts. While the highway has always been a hub for prostitutes catering to the passing truckers, the FOB has improved business.
Love nest
This reporter visited the spot on Tuesday night and encountered a few eunuchs, who introduced themselves as Sanjana, Lovely and Rani. They were all in their late 20s and were waiting for customers near the FOB. When the deal is struck, the clients are taken inside the metal structure of the FOB, which is not only well hidden by signboards and trucks, but is also fitted up with a bed.
Sanjana said they charge about Rs 100 for the “full service”, which is not a big deal. But ever since they started working out of the FOB, business has been even better. “It is covered with boards and hides us from motorists on the road. It’s also helpful for shy customers who feel uncomfortable about approaching us in an open place with lots of vehicles passing by,” she said, adding, “We start our day at 8 pm and end at 1 am. We earn about Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, depending on the flow of customers.”
‘Useful in monsoon’
Most of the clients are either truckers waiting in queue at the octroi naka, or youngsters in their teens or early 20s. Sana Shaikh claimed to be the “hottest” among all the eunuchs and said they choose the clients they want. “I only accept clients with motorcycles or four-wheelers. Truck drivers are cheap. This is our area and no one stops us. We don’t bribe the police either. Everything goes smoothly till late night. Thanks to the authorities, we now also have a lavish room inside the bridge. It was very useful during the monsoon, and even now, we use it daily.”
Cops 100m away
Astonishingly, this is all happening right under the nose of the police — cops are stationed barely 100 metres away at the octroi naka.
DCP Shahaji Umap (Zone 6) said, “The area comes under the jurisdiction of the Mankhurd police station. Our officials visit the spot daily and patrolling is done on a regular basis so that no untoward incident takes place. Regular action is taken against them (the eunuchs).”
PWD says
RT Patil, superintendent engineer, PWD, confirmed that the dismantled bridge was kept aside for repairs. “It was important to remove the bridge and get it repaired. But that was the responsibility of the private firm, which took up the project on a build-operate-transfer basis. We have sent them several notices to remove the bridge, but they have not done so yet. We will send them a final notice and if they don’t act, we will do it on our own,” he said.
Rs 1.5 cr
Cost of building the FOB
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