Authorities act after mid-day report, but gutkha stains and broken tiles persist on Matunga bridge
BMC clean-up staff carry out a deep-cleaning drive at Matunga Z bridge on Tuesday. Pic/By Special Arrangement
BMC local ward clean-up teams swung into action at Matunga’s Z bridge on Tuesday, restoring it to a clean state a day after a mid-day report highlighted its poor condition. Clarifying responsibility, officials from the BMC and Indian Railways said the bridge will now be cleaned jointly. According to the arrangement, the BMC will handle the staircase and the small stretch of the bridge leading to the railway area, while the Railway division will be responsible for cleaning portions passing over the workshop.
On Monday, mid-day had reported how the Matunga Z Bridge, a vital foot overbridge linking Central and Western Railway stations, had become a symbol of bureaucratic apathy, with the BMC and Railways blaming each other for its upkeep. On Tuesday afternoon, a deep-cleaning drive was carried out on the west side of the bridge, including the staircase and the connecting foot overbridge to Matunga Road station. A civic beat-cleaning team was stationed at the site for several hours.
The staircase at Matunga Z bridge appears cleaned, but gutkha and paan stains remain visible on the bridge surface; (right) Broken tiles spotted on Matunga Z bridge. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The bridge, rebuilt and upgraded recently, was opened to the public in March 2025. It serves as a crucial east-west link and is used daily by lakhs of office-goers, students, and local residents. Several municipal schools, including IES and Raja Shivaji School, as well as colleges such as Ruia, Ruparel, Khalsa, VJTI, and Welingkar, are located nearby. The area also houses vegetable and flower markets and multiple temples.
Despite the clean-up, commuters pointed out that the bridge remains heavily stained with gutkha spit marks. Many residents have renewed demands for a strict ban on the sale and consumption of tobacco products in the area.
“Passing the buck has become routine, with no authority taking full responsibility. It is time the state government enforces a strict ban on tobacco, paan and related products,” said local resident Godwin D’Cruz. “Paan shops are mushrooming at every corner, and even minors are vulnerable. This has become a social menace unless strong action is taken,” he said.
Broken tiles raise concerns
Residents also flagged broken tiles on the newly opened bridge at the Matunga West end. “Tiles have already started coming off. It hasn’t even been a year since the bridge opened, and this is its condition,” said commuter Rajlakshmi Iyer. Railway officials said the damaged tiles would be repaired at the earliest.
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