As Mumbai gears up for Ganeshotsav 2024, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a safety warning for the fifth consecutive year, highlighting 13 “dangerous” bridges across the city.
These bridges, many of which are situated above railway lines, have been flagged as critical but compromised. This makes them risky for the thousands of devotees expected to participate in processions and immersion ceremonies starting September 7.
The bridges which are deemed dangerous include-
Central Railway (CR):
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Ghatkopar Railway Over Bridge (ROB)
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Currey Road ROB
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Arthur Road ROB
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Chinchpokli ROB
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Byculla ROB
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Sion Station ROB
Western Railway (WR):
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Marine Lines ROB
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Sandhurst Road ROB
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French ROB (connecting Grant Road and Charni Road stations)
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Kennedy ROB (connecting Grant Road and Charni Road stations)
Other Compromised Bridges:
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Falkland ROB (linking Grant Road and Mumbai Central)
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Mahalaxmi ROB
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Prabhadevi ROB
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Lokmanya Tilak (LT) Road ROB at Dadar
BMC highlights bridge risks and safety measures
Despite identifying these hazards back in 2019, the situation of these bridges remains largely unchanged, highlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges in the city. BMC officials clarified that while some bridges are currently undergoing repairs, work on others will commence after the monsoon season.
The BMC’s advisory is clear: avoid crowding on these bridges during the festival. Devotees are urged not to stop, dance, or use loudspeakers while crossing these bridges, with police personnel stationed to enforce these precautions.
The civic body, along with Mumbai Police, aims to ensure a safe and smooth festival by urging everyone to adhere to the guidelines and avoid potential accidents on these compromised structures.
Additionally, the Bombay High Court has instructed the Maharashtra government to ensure all Ganesh mandals adhere to the ban on plaster of Paris (PoP) idols for immersion, as per the 2020 Central Pollution Control Board guidelines. Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar emphasised that even mandals with existing permissions must be updated to comply with this ban.
The state has been directed to coordinate with municipal and police officials to enforce these conditions. A circular has been issued to relevant bodies to ensure compliance, and the court has scheduled further hearings for October 21.
