Residents of Kurla have approached the Bombay High Court seeking intervention in the ongoing metro construction near Halav Bridge, alleging serious safety lapses and broken assurances. The move comes days after a fatal metro-related accident on Lal Bahadur Shastri Road in Mulund, which has intensified fears among locals about infrastructure works in dense neighbourhoods.
With construction activity increasing around the bridge, residents claim that safety concerns and public consultation have been ignored. Anil Mandavkar, president of the Jai Bhavani Sports Club, said locals met MP Varsha Gaikwad to raise the issue. “But the MMRDA, Metro authorities and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation are not considering the concerns of residents. It feels as though they forgot the democratic system,” he said.
Mandavkar also questioned accountability, referring to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who oversees the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). “Despite continuous correspondence and follow-ups, if they do not have the time to visit and look into residents’ issues, then people at the helm should step down,” he said. Referring to the Mulund accident, he added, “If officials are ready to take credit for projects, why not be responsible for accidents? By giving Rs 5 lakh as compensation, are they not mocking common Mumbaikars?”
The dispute centres on a proposed 3.5 metre height clearance, which residents argue will restrict a key link between Old Kurla, New Kurla and Buddha Nagar. They fear emergency vehicles may struggle to pass if access narrows further.
Metro authorities have reportedly maintained that necessary permissions were obtained from the Fire Brigade. However, locals remain unconvinced. “Residents were supposed to be relocated first, and only then was the work meant to begin,” said 56-year-old Santosh Utekar. “We are hoping the court will intervene.”
Source: Mumbai Mirror
