Mumbai shows power of the common man as Elphinstone bridge stays open

Commuters plying on Elphinstone Bridge on Saturday. Pic/Ashish Raje

Elphinstone Bridge will remain open till further notice after instructions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, following the intervention of local MLA Kalidas Kolambkar. This was preceded by a protest by residents at the demolition site on Friday night.

"After our sustained protests there last night, our local MLA Kalidas Kolambkar came to the site and called up Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has instructed officials to stop the demolition and keep the bridge open till further notice. On Monday, we will be meeting Fadnavis and presenting our demands, followed by a meeting with MMRDA officials on Wednesday or so. The dates and timings are yet to be finalised, but the categorical instruction from the Chief Minister's office is to keep the bridge open till that date," local resident Sriram Pawar told Sunday mid-day.

The bridge is to be replaced with a double-decker bridge, with the upper deck being built by MMRDA and the lower deck by BMC and MahaRail. It will affect 19 buildings in the vicinity. Though authorities said only two buildings - Haji Noorani and Laxmi Niwas - are directly affected, residents said that it was not the case as per notices received by locals.

"Two buildings are affected for the upper-deck foundations which are being done by the MMRDA. They are the ones who have come to demolish the bridge. Once their work is over, they will go away and the construction of the lower deck will affect the rest of the buildings which is not being discussed now. Many of us have been issued notices by MHADA suddenly, stating that our buildings are dilapidated. We want clarity on the matter and proper compensation and rehabilitation," Pawar said.

Kolambkar called up the CM from the site on Friday night and explained the problem. They will soon be meeting to discuss it.

Speaking with Sunday Mid-Day, Kolambkar confirmed the development and said that the Chief Minister will discuss the issue and that they shall review the rehabilitation plan of the residents of 19 affected buildings. "I am of the opinion that the issues of the affected residents should be resolved first and then the authorities can begin their planned project work," he said.

The demolition of the bridge, however, would not be carried out immediately, but in phases in a planned manner. While the demolition of the non-railway portion would be carried out by MMRDA, the dismantling of the railway portion would be done by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MahaRail or MRIDC).