The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the railways to extend the foot overbridge (FOB) at Vikhroli station in the central suburbs and if required, demolish all illegal encroachment on the east side, including a shopping complex.
The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the railways to extend the foot overbridge (FOB) at Vikhroli station in the central suburbs and if required, demolish all illegal encroachment on the east side, including a shopping complex.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Roshan Dalvi has asked the railways to extend the FOB over the deadly level crossing which connects the eastern and western sides of the suburb, after it was brought to their notice that several deaths have taken place at the crossing.
The court has also said that the railways should demolish any portion of the SJ Vinayak Arcade, a portion of which is used to run Saloon Vega, if it falls in the area where the FOB is required to be extended.
The court direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Terence D’Souza and three other residents of the area, stating that several deaths take place at the level crossing at Vikhroli, and despite that the railways has not constructed a FOB of required length.
In 2007, the residents filed a PIL, after which the railways constructed a two-metre FOB following directions from the high court. However, the actual requirement is of six metres. As per the PIL, the FOB was first proposed in 1972.
Suresh Kumar, advocate for the railways, said that there is an illegal encroachment on the east side where the FOB is to be constructed.
In 2005, a club was constructed there. The PIL states that under the pretext of repairs, the club was demolished and in its place, the shopping arcade was constructed.
Kumar said that they could not build an FOB longer than two metres because of the encroachment.
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