Indian Express 29.09.2010
Rly wants Curry Bridge higher, hopes BMC will pay for width
Rly wants Curry Bridge higher, hopes BMC will pay for width
The Curry Road Bridge is set for reconstruction, becoming higher and probably wider, as Central Railway works on Phase II of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) and switches from DC to AC. What is undecided is who pays for what part of the work.
When the railway sought a higher bridge, the BMC reportedly responded that since it had to be rebuilt it might as well be wider to accommodate more traffic. The railway reworked its design but said it would bear the cost of widening only that portion where it needs the extra width; for the rest, it says, the BMC should pay. The BMC is yet to respond.
Built in 1915 by M/s Teju Kaya, the Curry Road Bridge is one of Central Mumbai’s most thickly congested stretches owing to the rapid mushrooming of commercial complexes, entertainment and shopping areas in the former mill zone. The railway overbridge helps connect areas like Parel and Sewri in the east to Worli and Lower Parel in the west.
Early this month, Central Railway sought South Mumbai MP Milind Deora’s help in seeking the BMC’s permission to raise the bridge height. For a switch to AC (planned by 2014), the overhead equipment and the road overbridge must be at least 5.87 metres apart. Besides, a taller bridge would also help the tracks avoid rainwater in the flood-prone area.
“In 2009, we submitted the general agreement drawing under which the entire structure was about 18 metres wide with a 1.5-metre footpath on either side,” said a railway officer. “The BMC responded it needs a wider bridge as the road sees heavy vehicular traffic.”
In April 2009, Central Railway submitted a revised proposal, the bridge now 24 meters wide and with two footpaths, one 1.5 metres wide and the other 3 m, connecting to Curry Road station. This would mean constructing another ramp and an additional wall, and a few rehabilitation issues for which the railway doesn’t want to bear the additional cost. The railway would have to demolish the existing ticket window too.
“We can only extend the width on the CST end as the monorail would run close and parallel to the rebuilt bridge. We have asked the BMC to share the cost as they have demanded the width be increased,” said the officer.
The BMC said it is yet to respond to the new designs. The civic body will study the proposal “before any sort of no-objection-certificate is given to the railway,” said BMC executive engineer A P Pawar.
Meet on MUTP-3
Projects to be undertaken during Phase III of the MUTP will be discussed from October 20 to 22 among World Bank, MMRDA and MRVC officials. A World Bank team would be in the city to launch work on Phase II-A. “The discussion would focus on work to be undertaken under Phase III,” said MRVC MD Prakash Chander Sehgal.
