Delayed for years, Mulund’s East-West bridge sees progress after public protest; completion in three months; on Wednesday, the Congress party held a large protest outside Mulund railway station
Congress workers protesting outside Mulund railway station on Wednesday. Pic/Rajendra B Aklekar
Passions have been running high over the long-delayed Mulund East-West bridge, an issue mid-day has consistently highlighted. Jointly constructed by the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti Unit of Central Railway Mumbai and the BMC, the bridge recently made headlines again after the divisional office of Central Railway Mumbai publicly declared on social media that work had stalled due to non-payment of funds by the BMC.
In response, Mulund activists and opposition party members marched to the BMC headquarters on Monday and met Additional Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, who immediately sanctioned the pending funds, enabling the resumption of work.
The east-west connectivity bridge is the only pedestrian option to cross from Mulund East to West without purchasing a railway ticket. mid-day had previously reported on March 29 about the prolonged delay in its completion. Despite funds being sanctioned and work resuming, local sentiment continues to run strong. On Wednesday, the Congress party held a large protest outside Mulund railway station.
“We took up the issue with the BMC on July 22, and after repeated assurances, some funds were finally released. Of the '12.44 crore project cost, only '3 crore had been deposited by the BMC, with Rs 9.44 crore still pending. Work has now resumed. It’s shameful that despite the same party ruling both the state and Centre, basic infrastructure like east-west connectivity in Mulund is still an issue. We also met the contractor, who confirmed that funds have been received and the work will be completed in the next three months,” said Rakesh Shetty, Mulund Congress leader and party spokesperson. Congress members also staged a symbolic protest with a donation box, urging citizens to “donate” funds for the bridge.
Rajesh Ingle, secretary of Mumbai Congress, who led the protest, said, “The BMC is said to be the richest municipal corporation in Asia, and yet it is failing to honour its monetary obligations for an essential civic amenity like a FOB. Therefore, we are symbolically seeking monetary donations from commuters of Mulund as a protest for donating the same to MCGM to make payments to the Railway and expedite the much-delayed FOB construction.”
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