Security at Bandra Worli Sealink (BWSL) is once again in the news after a 24-year-old man was dissuaded from committing suicide by jumping from the sea link late on Monday night.
BWSL has always been a thorn in the flesh for security agencies. And Monday night's incident has triggered a tug of war between Mumbai police and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
Mumbai police had on Sept 2 had a meeting with MSRDC officials to find a solution to suicides being committed by jumping from BWSL. In the meeting attended by an officer of DCP rank and senior MSRDC officials, police had suggested increasing the height of BWSL railings and laying nets below the sea link. Police had also suggested increasing the number of CCTV cameras on BWSL stretch.
On Monday, a Bihar native, Sanjay Chaudhary, had threatened to jump off BWSL after he had lost money in betting, triggering a blame game between MSRDC and Mumbai police, which stated that they were helpless and it was not possible for them to check every vehicle on BWSL and ensure that it does not stop in between.
"We are trying our best, but it's not possible to place policemen round the clock on BWSL. We do keep and eye on all vehicles that enter BWSL, but if the driver stops in between, it's difficult to reach the spot before he jumps," said S Jaykumar, deputy commissioner of police, Zone III. He added: "We have already suggested various measures to MSRDC and are waiting for them to implement them."
MSRDC, however, feels prevention of such incidents is police' duty. "We built the BWSL as per the plan. Stopping suicides etc are Mumbai police' job," said S Ramchandani, joint managing director, MSRDC.
Attempt to suicide
Sanjay Chaudhary, the man who threatened to jump from BWSL late on Monday night, has been booked by Worli police for attempt to suicide. Chaudhary allegedly took a taxi from Bandra end and got off in the middle of BWSL. He left the taxi saying he wanted to take pictures from the sea link. He was produced before the court which remanded him in judicial custody till Nov 19.
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