'A socio-economic cultural challenge'

Peddar Road flyover continues to divide Currently it is the most controversial piece of infrastructure in South Mumbai and it has not even begun Peddar Rd flyover designer Atul BhobeThe designer of the Peddar Road flyover or the viaduct as it is technically called Atul Bhobe Managing Director S N Bhobe amp Associates speaks about a bridge that has SoBo simmering Excerpts from an interviewQ Have you designed any other flyovers in the city or are you in the process of designing any other right nowAns We have made the conceptual design Detailed design of the work will be taken up by the contractor who will be appointed for the designbuild contract which means that this contractor will translate our concept with specifications of the flyover into concrete reality on the ground We S N Bhobe amp Associates have designed more than 25 bridges in the city and have just completed the design review and construction supervision of flyovers on the Ambedkar Road Q Do give me the dimensions of the Peddar Rd flyover in laymans termsAns It is 41 km long and would approximately be at a height of a fivestorey building It has two lanes on either side so it will carry four lanes of Light Motor Vehicles LMV trafficu00a0 Q The flyover has noise barriers What are these noise barriers and would they block light sunshine from coming in to peoples homesAns These are sound barriers not light barriers They will not prevent light but only cut off sound and reduce noise levels Details can be availed fromu00a0 Dr Umesh Kulkarni Environmental Consultant to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation MSRDC for work Dr Kulkarni clarified that the sound barriers would be translucent which means the residents would be able to see outside but those on the flyover would be unable to look into homes of the residentsu00a0u00a0Q Pollution is a huge concern for residents would this flyover address thatAns The flyover has something called air purifiers Once again details can be availed from Dr Umesh Kulkarni Kulkarni said Air purifiers are going to be put at distances of 100m or a little further apart throughout the flyover to tackle emissions and pollutantsu00a0u00a0u00a0 Q There is trepidation that the flyover would spoil the skyline especially near the Chowpatty beachAns There are no flyover piers on the Chowpatty beach and it also does not touch NanaNani park Least disturbance to traffic environment and surrounding populace are the prime concerns while deciding the design principles not just for Peddar Rd but for any work in populated urban India Q How long approximately did it take you to design the flyoverAns We are working on the project since 2006 when it was taken up by MSRDC for implementation Q This flyover is hugely controversial because of the fierce opposition Would you say this is one of the most challenging projects you have worked on Ans Not really The Sion flyover was technically more challenging because it had to be constructed very close to old structures and the same had to be preserved and monitored during construction Many of the structures around the Sion flyover are load bearingwooden floors etc and it was a challenge to design and construct so close to these structures We had to ensure the buildings do not vibrate or there are no cracks to adjoining structures Besides the Sion junction has turning movements in plenty and managing the traffic and its diversion was a major challenge It was not possible to do the entire work offsite because of the site constraints and we had to work in situations like on top of running traffic The Peddar Rd flyover is not as much of a technical challenge it is more of a socioeconomiccultural one Q Peddar Rd residents say the world is exploring other options like Sea Links and underground tunnels instead of flyoversAns Such options are studied in almost every project They have also been looked at for Peddar Rd too but the cost benefit analysis which in laymans terms simply means Value for Money VFM does not favour such solutionsDr Umesh Kulkarni showing an animated film of the flyover Q With residents and the authorities deadlocked over the Peddar Rd flyover issue do you think one can reach a solutionAns I believe that every problem has a solution As engineers and planners we try to find solutions to engineering problems Social and economic problems too have solutions but they need a lot of inputs from a wider cross section of society like politicians administrators citizens media every arm of society so to speak We must find global solutions which are right for the city rather than looking at solutions which may be right or wrong locally because what might not suit local residents could well be the right solution for the city Seen in the right perspective I think a solution could be achieved for the Peddar Rd flyover too Traffic FlowAlternatives for Southbound city traffic while work on the proposed Peddar Rd flyoveris onFrom Haji Ali Junction to TardeoNana ChowkWilson CollegeMarine Drive and farther on to South MumbaiFrom BandraWorli Sealink to Mahalaxmi and Byculla then to CST and further into South MumbaiFrom Prabhadevi to Worli Naka nd Mahalaxmi on to Byculla towards CST and South MumbaiAmbedkar Road available with all flyovers now completed for through traffic to South MumbaiFor traffic one lane of minimum 35m at Peddar Rd would be available in both directionsShout and protest if promises are brokenAt a fractious public hearing held at Haji Ali last month Dr Umesh Kulkarni from the Fine Envirotech Engineers FEE an environmental and pollution abatement firm showed an animation film as they called it about the proposed flyoveru00a0Dr Kulkarni gave his presentation amidst shouts from the residents while he was talking that this was a farce and they should be allowed to ask questions in the middle It underlined the trust deficit between the residents who were opposed to the flyover and those giving the presentationu00a0Dr Kulkarni says For all practical purposes I have finished my presentation and it is there in black and white I heard some of the shouts when I was presenting but these were done to divert attention from the real issues If the residents do not believe what was said then they are showing that they do not believe the Govtu00a0The Govt is not going to go back on its word In any case if all those pollution and visibility barriers that are promised are not put in if the Govt goes back on its word then that is the time to protest Dr Kulkarni also said that the JJ flyover passed quite close to residences and so did Sion flyover but nobody has the time to look into the houses Moreover On the JJ flyover there are no visibility barriers and air purifiers but they are going to be incorporated for the Peddar Rd flyover The flyover must come technically and legally it is a requirement