The Matunga-Dharavi foot overbridge (FOB) linking Dharavi with Sion has remained in use despite plans to shut it ahead of the Ganpati festival after a structural audit found the bridge to be unsafe.
Residents of Dharavi staged protests near the FOB on Wednesday and Thursday, with political leaders from different parties supporting their demand against the proposed closure. During the demonstrations, residents also removed blue metal sheets that had been installed by authorities to block access to the staircase.
Local residents said the bridge is an important daily route for people travelling between Dharavi, Sion and surrounding neighbourhoods. With the Sion Road Overbridge (ROB) currently under reconstruction, they argued that closing the FOB would leave commuters with limited alternatives.
Paul Raefel, a Dharavi resident who participated in the protests, said the structure is used by hundreds of people every day.
“The authorities are simply shutting it down without taking into consideration the impact and inconvenience it will cause, especially since the FOB is the only link between Dharavi and Sion as the Sion ROB (road over bridge) is being reconstructed,” Raefel said.
Students Among Regular Users
Residents said the FOB is particularly important for students because around 10 to 15 schools and colleges are located in the Sion area. Domestic workers and drivers living in Dharavi also regularly use the bridge to reach Matunga, King’s Circle and Sion.
“The FOB will not be closed at least until the Ganpati festival ends. A meeting is scheduled after Ganesh Chaturthi where further steps will be discussed,” Raefel said.
Structural Audit Recommended Closure
The Matunga Dharavi FOB was among four pedestrian bridges identified by Central Railway (CR) for closure ahead of the festival after inspections raised concerns about their condition. The other structures were the Bhandari FOB at Masjid, Masjid station FOB and Matunga Level Crossing FOB at Bhau Daji Road.
The four bridges were jointly inspected by BMC and Central Railway officials on August 27, while structural audit reports prepared by IIT Bombay were submitted on August 31.
In its communication regarding the Matunga Dharavi FOB near Guru Nanak High School, the BMC stated, “The FOB…has been observed to be in a distressed condition, structurally unsafe, with deterioration and corrosion affecting critical structural components. In view of the observed distress and considering the potential risk to public safety, it is strongly recommended that the FOB be closed to pedestrian traffic immediately and the structure be considered for demolition and reconstruction.”
Railway Seeks Urgent Closure
Although the FOB is owned by the BMC, the section spanning the railway tracks is to be dismantled by Central Railway with assistance from the civic body.
Railway officials said the BMC had asked for all four bridges to be closed to pedestrian movement until further instructions. However, as of now, only the Bhandari FOB has been shut, while the other three continue to remain operational.
“The three FOBs need to be shut on urgent basis as they are in distressed condition and pose risks to people using them as well as the trains passing beneath them. In case of any untoward incident, will the people objecting to their closure take responsibility,” a CR official asked.
The issue now remains a balance between public access needs and structural safety concerns, with further discussions expected after Ganesh Chaturthi.
Source: Hindustan Times
