Mumbai's Irla nullah bridge closure forces 2 km detour for residents

The closed bridge over Irla nullah. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Juhu and Vile Parle residents have raised concerns about the closure of the bridge over the Irla nullah, saying they have been facing difficulties for the past month. Locals were unsure why the structure had been shut, speculating that it could be owing to repairs. They added that because of the closure, they have to take a 2-km detour.

The bridge was previously closed for eight to nine months in 2023, and residents said they were inconvenienced then as well, as workers had accidentally damaged a pipe, cutting off the supply of water to the area for a few days.

Residents stated that when they contacted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), they were told that officials would look into the matter, but no action has been taken.

mid-day contacted the K West ward of the BMC to understand why the bridge had been shut and what steps were being taken to provide relief to residents, but
didn't receive a reply by press time.

2023
Year bridge was last shut

Residents speak

Sunil Kanojia, daily commuter
‘The detour costs those travelling from the area to Andheri railway station R100 daily. We were happy when the bridge was reopened. But the work seems to have been started again. With no pedestrian walkway across the nullah, we are being severely inconvenienced'

Sandeep Tiwari
‘My kids study in a school which is 600 m from my house, but now, because the bridge is closed, they have to walk about more than 2 km to the school, or take an auto, which costs about Rs 70 a day'

Albert Pinto
‘Senior citizens, who would use the bridge daily, now walk around in the heat. We are supportive of the BMC's initiative to reconstruct the bridge, but we only request that residents should not be inconvenienced'