Central Railway red-flags seven road overbridges across city that the railways have completed but literally remain hanging after local bodies fail to do their bit
The Diva road overbridge stands finished on the railway side but remains unusable without approaches
The local train is packed, yet the compartment is silent. The silence comes from the frustration and anger of commuters as the train halts in the middle of nowhere, just short of Diva station. This has become a daily ritual. “What is the use of rushing to catch the train on time when it ends up waiting here every day?” asks office-goer Mandar Abhyankar, visibly fed up.
Motorist Diwakar Dhond, a resident of Maruti Mandir Road in Diva West, faces the same misery on the road. He spends around 30 minutes crawling across a 200-metre stretch near the level crossing to reach the Diva-Shil Road and then NH-48. “All that time is just waiting in long queues to cross the railway lines,” he says. Everyone is angry. Motorists wait for trains to pass; trains wait for motorists to clear the crossing. This happens more than 40 times a day, delaying suburban and national train traffic.
Daily traffic pile-up at the Diva level crossing, which opens over 140 times a day. Pics/By Special Arrangement
The reason behind this daily mess is a complete lack of planning and coordination between agencies. The road overbridge (ROB) at Diva, meant to eliminate the level crossing, is structurally ready across the railway tracks, but without land for its approaches on either side, the multi-crore project stands useless. And this is not the only such case.
Central Railway recently raised a red flag over seven road overbridges across the Mumbai division where the railway portion is complete, but the structure is literally hanging — unused — because local bodies have failed to build the connecting approaches. According to internal records, these stranded bridges across the CSMT-Kalyan main line, Kalyan-Karjat and Karjat-Lonavla belts, and Panvel-Roha stretch remain incomplete due to land acquisition disputes, court cases, stalled tenders and municipal delays.
The hanging Diva road overbridge; Unfinished approach work at the Vidyavihar ROB, one of seven bridges stranded due to delays. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Despite the Railways completing their sections through costly mega blocks, the bridges cannot be opened to the public, defeating their very purpose. Officials say the approach work in many locations has not even begun, while in others, half-built ramps stand abandoned due to disputes with landowners or contractors.
A Central Railway spokesperson said the situation is frustrating. “We finished our part years ago. Without approaches, these bridges are useless. Public money is locked up, and the safety benefits of eliminating level crossings are not realised.”
The delays have also negated the operational benefits — many of these ROBs were meant to replace level crossings and ease congestion. For instance, the Diva level crossing opens around 145 times a day, delaying every train passing through the stretch.
A familiar story
“This is not the first time civic bodies have delayed their part,” an official said. “The Railways finish their portion under tight deadlines while municipal bodies struggle with land acquisition, utility shifting, tender delays or funding issues. In the meantime, crores worth of steel and concrete hang mid-air. Vidyavihar and Diva are prime examples.”
Public money locked up
The incomplete ROBs defeat their purpose of improving safety and reducing congestion.
The railway section of the Diva ROB, fully completed, awaits connecting ramps from civic authorities
What next?
Railway authorities have issued reminders to agencies seeking urgent action. But with several cases tied up in litigation and land disputes, there is no timeline for when these bridges will open.
Politics at play?
Sources said the foundation of the Diva bridge was laid by Aaditya Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, possibly contributing to political friction.
Voices
Ratnakar Gaikwad, Commuter
“What’s the point of building half a bridge? We have been waiting for years.”
Suban Khan, Member of commuter association
“These ROBs are just monuments in the sky. Until approaches are built, they’re useless.”
Subhash Gupta, President of Mumbai Yatri Sangh
“Public money is literally hanging in mid-air. Authorities must coordinate before planning.”
Seven ‘hanging’ overbridges
>> Diva station, Diva-Mumbra section
>> Vidyavihar, CSMT-Kalyan section
>> Ulhasnagar-Ambernath, Kalyan-Karjat section
>> Bhiwandi, Dombivli-Vasai section
>> Roha-Nidi, Panvel-Roha section
>> Lonavala-Malavali, Lonavala-Pune section
>> Nilje-Taloja Panchnand, Dombivli-Panvel section
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