Kurla residents want FOB constructed on priority
MUMBAI: Residents of Takiya Ward and Swadeshi Mill in Kurla have launched a signature campaign against the demolition of a foot overbridge (FOB) between Sion and Kurla stations after they have been forced to walk on railway tracks to go from east to west and viceversa.
The residents have written to the Central Railway (CR), demanding the urgent construction of a new bridge over the railway tracks.
The demolished FOB, which was more than 60 years old, was built to provide mill workers access to their houses, which were located at Takiya Ward.
“Just a few days back, a youth from the area lost his life while crossing the tracks. We don’t want it to become an everyday thing. But with rain around the corner and the other two bridges being distant, people tend to walk across the railway tracks to reach the other side,” said Vinayak Shinde, founder, Manav Seva Prathisthan, a local community group.
Locals said the Swadeshi Mill FOB was used by around 10,000 people on a daily basis.
“The area around Kasaiwada isn’t really good for a detour, and the other FOB on Chunnabhati side is dimly lit, making it unsafe for women to use during the night. So, we are concerned about their safety when they use the other bridge,” said Pravin Surve, resident of Nagva Chowk, Kurla.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the Railways will look into the construction of the Swadeshi Mill bridge, while the spokesperson of CR said tenders have been called for the construction of the same. “We received the initial amount for the FOB from BMC on May 3. However, work will begin only after the monsoon,” said the CR spokesperson.