Mumbai: Powai foot overbridge turns unsafe as drunkards occupy dilapidated structure

Powai foot overbridge, where liquor bottles can be seen lying scattered everywhere. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Antisocial elements have taken over a foot over bridge (FOB) near Powai lake, with residents stating that they see men drinking and passing out on the structure, which was built to help pedestrians cross the hectic Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.

Sonu Mourya, who runs a pav bhaji stall near the spot, told mid-day, "The FOB has been in this condition for the better part of the last decade. Over time, the railings have also rusted and fallen off, but no refurbishing has been carried out. We see men sitting and drinking on the bridge daily. To avoid them, folks walk all the way to the Powai police station to use the subway there to cross the road."

Mourya and other local vendors claimed the bridge is used by pedestrians once in a blue moon, but these are non-residents, as locals shun the dilapidated structure altogether.

He added, "There are a few other bridges in the area that are used more, because somehow they are being maintained while this has been just left to rot."

Sonu Mourya, who runs a pav bhaji stall near the spot

Safety concerns

Prathamesh Shinde, another resident, said, "Drunkards like to sit on the bridge because it offers a nice view of the lake that isn't obstructed by trees."

A woman who works as a house help in the area, requesting anonymity, said, "I have only ever dared to use the bridge in the afternoon because it is bright outside. In the evenings, when I get off work, I don't even give it a thought because of how aggressively the men on the FOB behave. Multiple times, my employers avoid asking me to come to their homes in the evening so that I don't have to cross the FOB."

No response

mid-day contacted the S ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to learn why the FOB had been left in such a condition, but received no response by press time