Pedestrian bridge at Belapur gets NMMC approval

THER BRIDGE WILL BE 82 METRES LONG AND 4 METERS WIDE. THE PROJECT WILL COST AROUND RS4 CRORE

NAVI MUMBAI: Addressing the long-standing issue of IT Colony residents crossing the tracks to reach Belapur village, the general body of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) approved the construction of a foot-over bridge (FoB), on Wednesday.

The bridge across the railway tracks is meant to improve connectivity between the two in Belapur. It will be 82 metres long and 4 meters wide and the project will cost around Rs4 crore.

In the absence of a bridge, the residents of those areas now cross the railway tracks to reach the other side of the town. Many people have died while crossing the tracks.

“IT Colony does not have a hospital, school or market in the area. They have to cross the tracks to reach Belapur village on a regular basis. An FoB will ease out their lives and ensure their safety. We have been following this issue for several years now. It has finally been approved by the general body on Wednesday,” said corporator Saroj Patil.

The civic authorities will now hand over the design for the FoB to the railway department. “The railway department has policy of undertaking such works after getting a deposit from the local bodies. NMMC is ready to bear the expenditure of the bridge,” Patil said.

“There are no foot overbridges or subways at many places along the harbour line and trans-harbour line in Navi Mumbai,” said Snehal Mhatre, 37, a resident of Belapur.

“If people stick to the norms of not crossing the tracks, they have no option but to travel two to three kilometers to reach the other side of the town, instead of just a five- minute walk. Belapur is also a one such place. The NMMC has taken a muchrequired step for the convenience of residents by approving this bridge,” he added.

BACHCHAN KUMAR The spot at Belapur village where residents cross tracks every day.