Underpasses score, as overbridges fail

As most don't use overbridges, MMRDA decides to construct subways

After spending over Rs 25 crore on foot over bridges (FOBs) on Western Express Highway (WEH) and Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and later realising that people are not using them due to several reasons, MMRDA has now decided to construct underpasses (subways) on these roads.



Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Nandkumar Chaugule said, "The FOBs constructed by the MMRDA are very high and the ailing and elderly people find it very difficult to climb them. As a result, many pedestrians end up crossing the highway directly rather than taking the bridge."

Taking this into cognizance, MMRDA has decided to construct underpasses rather than FOBs on highways. Places at WEH and EEH where FOBs' construction was impending, will now see underpasses coming up soon.

"Underpass would be very convenient to use for everyone. Besides, two wheelers and three wheelers can also ply on them without any problem," Chaugule opined.

Girijashankar Maharaj (75), a resident of Vile Parle said, "I take the FOB for crossing but I've to take many halts while climbing the steps.
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An underpass will be a big relief for the heart patients too, for whom climbing tall bridges can be life threatening."

When MiD DAY reporter visited the FOB at Vile Parle on WEH, we found that a person has to climb almost 50 steps to reach the top of the bridge.

As reported by MiD DAY earlier, more than 30 pedestrians have lost their lives trying to cross the WEH between Bandra and Dahisar in the past six months.

Lifts at FOBs

When the project of FOBs was taken up by the MMRDA in 2005, the authority had said that lifts would be installed at these locations for senior citizens and physically challenged. But none of the FOBs have any lifts till date.

Asked why the lifts weren't installed, MMRDA Chief Engineer S Nandargikar said, "The WEH was with us between 2005-2008 and was later handed over to Public Works Department (PWD), which looks after both the WEH and EEH now. Talks are on with the PWD regarding installation of lifts and the plan will materialise in near future."
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Meanwhile, Traffic Police have written a letter to the PWD asking them to install barricades on the median of the road so that people can't cross, but the PWD is yet to take a call on it.

Height issues
MiD DAY compared the height of MMRDA FOB with Railway FOB and Skywalk, and found it takes more effort to climb the MMRDA FOB