The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing to assume responsibility for 24 flyovers and several related road structures currently managed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), in a move aimed at streamlining maintenance and improving accountability for urban infrastructure across Mumbai.
Once the transfer process is completed, the civic body will take over 24 flyovers spanning nearly 20.25 kilometres, along with four foot overbridges, one road overbridge, one vehicular underpass, four pedestrian underpasses and four junctions.
The Maharashtra government had approved the transfer proposal in November last year. Following this, officials discussed the implementation roadmap during a review meeting held on April 23, where the BMC’s chief engineer for bridges presented details regarding the handover process.
According to civic officials, the BMC will become responsible for repair and maintenance work on the transferred structures, while the associated costs will also be borne by the corporation. However, revenue-generating rights, including advertisement contracts and toll collections, will continue to remain with MSRDC for now.
Officials stated that MSRDC currently has a maintenance contractor appointed until 2029 for activities such as pothole repairs, bridge painting and lane marking work.
The corporation has also requested several pending documents from MSRDC, including design drawings, contract records, bank guarantees and structural audit reports. During the review meeting, MSRDC officials informed the BMC that structural audits had recently been conducted by Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), and the reports would soon be submitted.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar said, “The state government wants BMC to take over the flyovers for the sake of convenience for citizens. During last monsoon, potholes on flyovers led to negative publicity. Since MSRDC delays in filling potholes and repairs, we don’t touch them because they belong to MSRDC.”
He added, “Now we are focussing on MSRDC but the philosophy is the same, to have one-point authority to maintain all flyovers.”
Source: Hindustan Times
