Mumbai commuters can now use the long-awaited foot overbridge connecting Aarey Metro station on Metro Line 7 with Oberoi Realty’s commercial complex across the Western Express Highway (WEH). The bridge, constructed by Oberoi Realty, has finally been opened to the public after remaining inaccessible for several years despite being completed.
The facility provides pedestrians with a direct and convenient route across the busy highway, eliminating the need to take a longer route through congested service roads. Earlier, commuters had to leave the Metro station, navigate the traffic-heavy service lanes and climb another staircase to reach the opposite side using an existing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-maintained foot overbridge.
The new structure connects directly to the Oberoi commercial complex and also links with the existing pedestrian bridge. It was developed under a Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) policy that permits private developers to finance infrastructure providing direct connectivity to their commercial properties.
However, its opening was repeatedly delayed due to pending fire department No Objection Certificates (NOCs), permission-related issues and incomplete construction work, including the requirement for an additional staircase.
Anant Bala Nar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Jogeshwari East, who had earlier pushed for the bridge to become operational in March, said the pending fire clearances and uncertainty over responsibility for securing them had contributed to the delay.
Ravindra Waikar, Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai North West, said he had opposed opening the facility exclusively for employees of the private complex, insisting that it should benefit the general public as well.
“For at least a year, I’ve not allowed the FOB to be opened if it just opened for employees of the private complex. But now, with the developer having agreed to open the FOB for the public too, and then build an additional staircase for the public’s exit at the other end in due time, the FOB has been opened,” he said.
Waikar formally inaugurated the bridge on Monday, although commuters had begun using it the previous week.
Source: The Indian Express
