Delisle Road Bridge Footpath Construction Begins After Year-Long Disturbances

Residents of Lower Parel and Currey Road have long complained about the lack of sidewalks on the recently completed Delisle Road bridge, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to finally begin building on pedestrian routes. The bridge, which opened for automotive traffic in November 2023, has sparked a community outcry over pedestrian safety.

Following frequent protests from residents, Mumbai City’s Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar directed the BMC to hasten the installation of pathways. Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray shared these comments, emphasising that the prior structure allowed pedestrian access, which has now become an urgent issue.

Last Friday, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani approved proposals to build a pathway with a width of 1 to 1.5 metres. “Currently, we are coordinating with the traffic police to ensure smooth management during construction,” a BMC employee said. “We aim to provide alternate routes for pedestrians while work is ongoing.” They predict that visible progress will occur during the following four to five days.

The BMC initially blocked the bridge in July 2018, following an IIT-Bombay structural study. The pandemic and material shortages slowed the rehabilitation process considerably. Although full traffic access was restored in November 2023, many people, notably the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, are still concerned about the lack of pedestrian sanctuaries. Their president, Subhash Talekar, emphasised how the lack of a walkway hinders daily operations for the dabbawalas, who serve as critical distributors in the area due to their proximity to several offices.

Despite the BMC’s claims, people remain unhappy as they deal with dangerous travel conditions and grieve the loss of crucial infrastructure that the former bridge supplied.

Source: The Free Press Journal

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