‘All officials are liars’: Parel residents slam authorities as vibration report on Elphinstone bridge demolition is delayed

The century-old Elphinstone Road bridge, which is being demolished to make way for a two-deck connector, in Parel. FILE PIC/ASHISH RAJE

Parel residents have sharply criticised authorities and technical experts for failing to deliver on key assurances regarding the ongoing demolition of Elphinstone bridge. With the vibration-level report - promised by the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) experts - still pending, locals say they feel abandoned and unheard as heavy machinery continues to operate dangerously close to their ageing buildings.

Residents expressed deep frustration after both the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the VJTI confirmed that the report, expected to be submitted on Monday, had not been delivered. "All officials, irrespective of the department, are liars. Not a single report has been shared with us. Everything is a false promise," said Shriram Pawar, a resident of Samarth Niwas.

The vibration-level study was commissioned after several residents complained that the demolition work was causing severe tremors in their weakened structures, many of which are over four decades old. Cracks have reportedly widened, walls have begun to shake each time heavy machinery is activated, and shop owners say their businesses are suffering due to the unsafe environment. Despite earlier visits by MMRDA officials and VJTI engineers - during which experts inspected cracks and took preliminary readings - there has been no formal documentation provided to residents.

The other side

MMRDA officials, when contacted, stated that they themselves had not received any report from VJTI. "We are yet to receive the document. The moment it is shared with us, we will communicate it to the residents," an MMRDA official said.

In contrast, VJTI experts maintain that the delay is procedural, not intentional. A senior member of the inspection team clarified that such technical reports require detailed analysis. "These documents cannot be rushed. They require proper evaluation and accurate calculations. The report will be handed over in a couple of days," said VJTI expert Vikas Phalle, urging residents to remain patient.

But residents argue that patience is a luxury they cannot afford, given the immediate risks. "No officials care about us or our lives or the businesses on which our families depend," said Uday Mane, who runs a salon below Samarth Niwas.

Meanwhile, demolition activities have not been halted despite repeated appeals by the community. Locals say the continuation of work without the promised safety assessments shows a complete disregard for public welfare. Several residents have demanded that the MMRDA immediately pause demolition until the vibration report is shared and mitigation measures are implemented.