Army to help build foot overbridge at Elphinstone station

MUMBAI: A month after 23 people were killed in a stampede on a bridge at Mumbai’s Elphinstone Road train station, the government has turned to the army for a new bridge. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Tuesday that the army would build a bridge at the site by January 31, provoking an outcry from Opposition parties. Will army fill up potholes next, derided the opposition Congress.

Visiting the Elphinstone Road Station with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Fadnavis said: “The army said they could build a bridge in a short span...we are taking the Army’s help in building a new foot overbridge at the Elphinstone Road station and two other suburban train stations in Mumbai.”

The army “has its role at the borders”, but it was roped in because of the urgency, explained Nirmala Sitharaman.

“I wanted to know the army’s view. We know that the army rushes to places where there are natural disasters.this is probably for the first time the Army was asked to come in to build what could otherwise be called civil work, but the Elphinstone tragedy was so big,” the Defence Minister said, adding that the army was “happy to help” and contribute to nation-building.

At the venue, Goyal said, “Army officers along with senior railway officials have done a survey at these stations and have given an assurance to erect the FOBS at these stations by the end of January 2018.”

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticised the central government s decision to rope in the Indian Army for rebuilding the Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai, terming it as “deplorable” and “an admission of the failure” of the government and the Indian Railways.

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