Ghatkopar-mankhurd flyover: Citizens, oppn slam BMC over work

MUMBAI: Mumbaiites, citizens’ groups, and opposition parties on Tuesday slammed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the construction quality of the Ghatkopar Mankhurd Link Road, which was inaugurated on August 1. The reactions were a day after a pillion rider, Yusuf Khan, 34, from Govandi, died in an accident on the flyover that connects the Sion-panvel Highway with the Eastern Express Highway.

Sharing the accident video – wherein a two-wheeler was seen skidding in the rain on the flyover – the Twitter handle of Govandi citizens’ group wrote, “Sad state of affairs. The new constructed Mankhurd flyover has become a death trap for motorists. Accidents happening from day one of the opening, in wet patches due to oil oozing out of the Worst Quality of Tar used for the road (sic).”

Aam Aadmi Party alleged that it the accident was due to BMC’S ineptitude by undertaking “inferior quality” infrastructure projects. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhalachandra Shirsat said on Tuesday, “We had raised this issue right after the inauguration of the bridge a month ago. The finishing work of the flyover is uneven and the tar on the road is melting and the oil is oozing out of it. This is causing two-wheelers to skid.”

A senior civic official from BMC’S bridges department said, “The bridge was briefly closed by the police on Tuesday and reopened. Some milling work will be undertaken on the surface soon. Some riders are not used to riding on a very smooth road surface.”