The Telli Galli flyover in Mumbai was opened to traffic on February 27, 2024. Abandoned vehicles are being moved to the spot due to the construction of a skywalk linking the Gundavali Metro station on Line 7 to the Western Express Highway Metro station on Line 1
Abandoned vehicles rot below the Telli Galli flyover in Andheri East. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The stretch beneath Andheri’s Teli Galli flyover, which links the recently opened Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge and the Western Express Highway, has been turned into an unofficial dumping zone for abandoned autorickshaws and two-wheelers. Citing a fire that broke out at the spot a year ago, residents raised a host of concerns.
The Telli Galli flyover was opened to traffic on February 27, 2024. Abandoned vehicles are being moved to the spot due to the construction of a skywalk linking the Gundavali Metro station on Line 7 to the Western Express Highway Metro station on Line 1. Apart from being an eyesore, these clunkers pose serious safety and health concerns, Andheri residents told mid-day.
“Abandoned vehicles have been dumped right in front of good shops and an imported vehicles showroom. What message does this send out?” said Godfrey Pimenta, an advocate and a trustee of the Watchdog Foundation.
During the showers, small parts of abandoned vehicles, such as side mirrors, fall on the road, causing obstructions. “A few days ago, while driving below the flyover, a mirror from an abandoned autorickshaw fell right in front of me. It was so sudden that I almost lost control of my vehicle,” said a motorist, requesting anonymity.
“If there is no permanent place to dump these vehicles, the only thing that should be done is to scrap or auction them, but the authorities haven’t made an effort to do either,” said Pimenta. “We have been having an issue with the abandoned vehicles for some time, but the authorities have not put forth a solution,” said an Andheri resident.
Fire hazard
Rohit Jain, a software engineer who lives in JVPD, Andheri West, said, “The abundant space below the Telli Galli flyover is going to waste. Due to residual petrol left in some vehicles, there was a fire under the flyover in May last year. Instead of allowing this fire hazard to exist, the authorities can use the space to create something like a pay-and-park facility.”
Dhaval Shah, director, Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association. Pic/Ashish Raje
Dhaval Shah, the director of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association, told this newspaper that the issue was a long-standing one and described the presence of abandoned vehicles as a ticking time bomb.
“Even after last year’s fire, no lessons were learnt. Using the space below the flyover to dump abandoned vehicles is wrong and hazardous for those living near the bridge. We urge the authorities to take urgent action and convert the space into a garden or something similar,” said Dhaval Shah, the director of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association.
The BMC launched Operation Khatara back on May 29, 2018, seeking to identify and remove abandoned vehicles from public spaces, but citizens have claimed that the authorities have not consistently taken their own drive seriously.
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