Charni Road residents want foot-overbridge repaired soon but the BMC has other plans
The foot-overbridge (FOB) connecting Charni Road station to Thakurdwar, of which a part of a staircase came crashing down on Saturday, is used by students of nearly four schools in the vicinity, thus the area's residents want the work on the bridge to be completed within a month, as the students will not be using the bridge during this time owing to Diwali vacations.
However, according to the BMC, it will take around two years for the bridge's construction, hence it has suggested the alternate solution to have a zebra crossing where the bridge stood.
The residents have been raising the issue since September 21. They first raised their concerns on social media, followed by organising a street play that highlighted the issue.
"We have been crying hoarse, have written to the BMC, protested at the bridge but nothing was done. Only after a part of the bridge collapsed did the authorities wake up. The bridge is used by school students of nearly four schools. With the bridge gone, they will now be forced to cross a very busy road and it's dangerous. We are writing to the BMC to finish the work within Diwali vacations so that the students don't face such dangers," said Gaurav Sagwekar, of Aamhi Girgaumkar, a residents' body that has been raising concerns about the bridge's weak condition.
VP Mote, D ward officer said, "We are making arrangements for a zebra crossing as the bridge volume is more and the time period is two years."
In the wake of the tragedy at Elphinstone Road station, the residents held a protest on October 9 to bring attention to a similar fate. In the play, residents dressed up as wounded victims of a bridge collapse incident. While it was meant to wake up the authorities, Sagwekar said that all their efforts fell on deaf ears.
Until last week, the local BMC ward was yet taking an update on the issue.
Ignored issue
Residents have been raising concerns over the bridge’s safety since September 21.
They first turned to social media, after which they organised a street play to highlight the issue.
Authorities did not respond until Saturday.
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