Eastern Express Highway FOB In Dismal Condition
Residents Stop Using The Bridge After CST FOB Crash!!
After the death of 6 innocent Mumbaikars and several injured in the unfortunate CST – Himalaya Foot Over Bridge also known as ‘Kasab Bridge’ (as the terrorist had passed beneath the bridge), the blame game between the BMC and the Railways has started as neither is willing to accept the responsibility of the crash.
It is indeed, shameful, that only after a tragedy the civic administration wakes up and displays sincerity in their work! Thus, once again, after the collapse of the Himalaya Bridge, BMC has woken from its deep slumber and has started examining the depleted and dangerous FOBs in Mumbai and issued orders of re-audit of all the bridges in Mumbai!!
However, Mumbaikars believe the drama of issuing orders to re-audit the bridges in nothing but an eyewash! Mumbaikars have witnessed in the past when the Elphinstone Road Bridge collapsed or when Andheri FOB collapsed nothing concrete was done except the drama of civic engineers examining the bridges!!! Mumbaikars are thus questioning : If the re-audit of the bridges in the past was really sincere, then why did the CST Himalaya Bridge collapse??? Does BMC have an answer???
Like the CST Foot Over Bridge, in Mulund East, the FOB erected near Anand Nagar Toll Naka is in a pathetic condition. A senior citizen told Home Times, “The FOB was repaired a few months back but, despite repairs, the condition of the FOB is dismal and dangerous to the lives of people commuting over it.” He added, “This is the only FOB connecting people from Mulund East to West. Hence, it is obvious the FOB is used by many, particularly school students and senior citizens. But, after the news of the crash of CST FOB, people are afraid to commute over the bridge.” “It’s tragic despite the pathetic condition of the bridge and the news of CST FOB crash, BMC T-Ward is still unmoved,” he lamented.
It may be noted that the FOB was constructed by the Public Works department (PWD) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). But, after the tragic news of the collapse of CST FOB, people in Mulund are scared to walk over the FOB claiming the condition of the FOB is pathetic and, like CST FOB, it can collapse any movement.
A Mulund resident informed Home Times, “In the year 2011, MHADA residents had taken out a huge morcha, urging to make a FOB after reports of several accidents and deaths due to the railway crossing. But, alas, due to the cold war between PWD and MMRDA, the maintenance work of the FOB has been badly affected due to which the FOB which is just 8 years old is so wrecked that it is on the verge of collapse.”
Another Mulundkar said, “We have written several complaints to the BMC T-Ward officials. We even had several meetings, but it is regrettable that the officials give a deaf ear to such a grave issue. As a result, the condition of Mulund East FOB today has become serious much like the dismal condition of CST FOB and it can collapse any time and cause a huge disaster!!”
Hence, Home Times, on the behalf of Mulund East residents, urges the civic administration to act immediately and prevent a calamity as several vehicles and people pass over the FOB.
Home Times, in its reality check, found the FOB really in a feeble condition. During its examination, Home Times witnessed the staircases are broken and jagged, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk over them. What is most dangerous is that the beams supporting the bridge have multiple cracks, indicating clearly the FOB is very dangerous and may prove fatal for people walking over the bridge!! The lower portion of the FOB is not at all robust but is too weak to sustain the load!!!
Besides Mulund, the condition of the FOBs on the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) at Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, and Vikhroli are also in shambles and need urgent renovation.
When Home Times confronted the concerned officials they informed that the inspection work of the bridge has begun and soon the bridge will be repaired.
