After the recent collapse of the Himalaya bridge at CSMT, the MMRDA carried out a structural audit of FOBs and flyovers
This monsoon be ready to carry your umbrella even on the 21 odd foot over bridges (FOB) on the Western and Eastern Express Highways (WEH, EEH) as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to remove roofs from FOBs. According to the MMRDA, roofs add to the weight of FOBs. After the recent collapse of the Himalaya bridge at CSMT, the MMRDA carried out a structural audit of FOBs and flyovers on the WEH and EEH.
The collapse of the Himalaya bridge at CSMT in March 2019 claimed seven lives and left 31 injured. As a result, several agencies in the city actively took up structural audits and inspections for FOBs and flyovers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The MMRDA in a statement on Tuesday said, "The roofs of FOBs look very shabby and also weaken the structure due to their weight. I have insisted to not have advertising boards on FOBs. This will lighten the load on FOBs further. We will also paint the FOBs white and gray keeping in sync with aesthetics."
Viraj Mamania, a Dahisar resident said, "If roofs add to the weight on an FOB, why were they installed in the first place? Removing them will create problems during monsoon months. This exercise is a perfect example of how the government wastes public money."
The MMRDA claimed it is carrying out the exercise to keep these structures safe. The authority is carrying out a structural audit of eight FOBs on the WEH through the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, it will undertake the same for 13 FOBs on the EEH. An MMRDA official said, "The audit is currently underway for several FOBs on the WEH and EEH; the observations were made by the MMRDA chief considering they are important for the longevity of FOBs."
The MMRDA statement further said, "We will also undertake beautification of medians and spaces below flyovers on the EEH and WEH to bring forth a happy and cheerful change to the otherwise drab looking transport infrastructure."
DNA had on March 23, 2019 reported about the MMRDA and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) going to inspect and audit flyovers in the wake of an FOB collapse.
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