Mumbai: MMRDA to spend over Rs 90 lakh to board up areas under SCLR flyovers

Taking a leaf out of the book of the MSRDC, which has been successful in stopping illegal parking and encroachment by covering the open space below the Elphinstone Road flyover, the MMRDA has decided to spend over Rs 90 lakh to construct compound walls and put up chain-link fencing to protect the area below flyovers on the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR).

Illegal parking and encroachment by hawkers has already started taking place underneath the double-decker flyover. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar

An MMRDA official said, "Every time a new flyover is constructed, illegal parking takes place and shanties come up underneath them. To prevent this, we have decided to construct a compound wall and put up chain-link fencing to protect the area below flyovers on SCLR."

Encroachment under flyovers has been a major problem in the city and portions of the area under the LBS Marg flyover near Kurla, on the SCLR, have already been encroached by scrap dealers. Officials say attempts to move them have not seen lasting success, as they keep coming back.

To begin with, MMRDA is looking at covering up the area under the double-decker flyover on the SCLR and has invited tenders for the same. Officials said the work will be completed in two to three months after a contract is awarded and is expected to cost Rs 90 lakh. The authority plans to take up the LBS Marg flyover in the next phase.

Orders
In 2009, the Urban Development department had issued a General Resolution (GR), banning parking of vehicles below flyovers throughout the state. Three years later, the High Court had also banned parking lots under flyovers, citing security concerns.

MSRDC's success
Several vehicles used to be parked under the Elphinstone Road flyover along Tulsi Pipe Road and, to tackle the menace, the MSRDC started boarding up the space using tin sheets in January. Security guards were also posted at the spot and the area has seen no encroachment since then.