August 23, 2025: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to clarify its position on the stalled Bandra East foot overbridge (FOB) project before the court considers passing any adverse orders against it. The bridge is intended to connect Bandra railway station with the Kalanagar junction, a key link to the Bandra Kurla Complex business district.
A division bench of Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Manjusha Deshpande was hearing a petition filed in 2023 by Bandra East resident K.P. Purushothaman Nair, who raised concerns over the prolonged non-availability of the pedestrian bridge.
The court observed that despite repeated assurances, progress on the project remained minimal, causing hardship to thousands of commuters. “It pains us to see the life of commuters being risked and inconvenienced on account of such municipal lethargy,” the bench remarked, pointing out that pedestrians were forced to walk in unhygienic, chaotic and unsafe conditions.
The earlier FOB along the one-kilometre stretch was demolished in 2021, with the civic body committing to rebuild it. In April 2023, the BMC told the court that tendering would conclude within two months and the bridge would be ready in 15 months. However, in subsequent hearings, the civic body merely repeated its undertakings. By October 2024, while assuring completion by June 2024, it admitted that work had only begun in March 2023.
Nair once again approached the court this year, alleging that the construction had stalled, with only pillars erected. Expressing displeasure, the judges noted that repeated assurances—both on affidavit and in solemn statements—had been breached “with impunity”.
The court has now directed the municipal commissioner to investigate the conduct of officers responsible and asked the BMC to file an affidavit explaining the delays. The matter will be heard again on September 9, 2025.
Source: Hindustan Times
