Mumbai: BMC throws another obstacle for Marine Drive jaywalkers

After its experiment of installing barricades on the median at Marine Drive to hinder jaywalkers a month ago proved a failure the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC will add a horizontal strip to the upper side of the barriers grow a dense green hedge and install barbed wire to keep the pedestrians from crossing the busy stretchThis newspaper has been highlighting how the civic body started installing barriers on the median in July at a cost of Rs 84 lakh despite a similar attempt at Girgaon Chowpatty having failed The lack of pedestrian crossings on the long stretch also remains an issueVarious resident associations had been constantly demanding the barricading of medians to prevent jaywalkers from jumping over them in the middle of the road which sees heavy traffic After residents continuously followed up with the BMC the latter came up with a plan without discussing it with the association and started installing barricades in midJulyThe barrier offers zero resistance to citizens at Marine Drive on the weekendAs per the plans the barricade strips were supposed to be installed on the divider from NCPA to Princess Street Flyover to stop pedestrians from crossing the road midday had reported how the move wouldnrsquot yield any results as the same solution hasnt worked out at Girgaon Chowpatty As expected people are still seen making their way through the gaps or climbing over the barricade to cross the road Even local residents opposed the move Now the BMC officials have discussed the issue with residents and found their suggestions usefulldquoThe design of the median was not practical However we were informed that this is the design that had been approved by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee tenders had been issued and work had already started We request the corporation and government departments to kindly take our opinion before any development activity is planned for our area before it is too laterdquo said Ashok Gupta president of Marine Drive Citizenrsquos AssociationHe added ldquoThe corporation has accepted our suggestion of adding one more strip across the vertical metal rods Also the rods have to be affixed securely to the median so that they cannot be uprooted The barriers will have a single colour approved by us There should be no gap anywhere not even near light poles A dense green hedge has to be grown in the median below the rods and finally a single steel barbed wire might have to be wound around the rods if the public still abuses the fence installationrdquoIn the absence of a zebra crossing or bridge pedestrians cross the stretch via a broken portion of the barrier PicsAshish RajeJaydeep More assistant commissioner of A ward which comprises Colaba Fort and Marine Drive said ldquoWe discussed the issue with the residents and we will strengthen the barrier with one more strip on the upper side of the barricade The existing rods are good but the jaywalkers removed some before curing time Now we will use barbed wire as a first precaution so that the rods get cured and are fixed well We will even plant shrubsornamental plants so that there will be no space on the median to place onersquos footrsquo We will even plant shrubsornamental plants so that there will be no space on the median to place onersquos footrdquoMore added that there isnrsquot any need for signs to show the next crossing as people from outside the city donrsquot jump over medians ldquoThese are the regular visitors who know where the crossings are but still opt to jump on the medianrdquo he claimedHowever there is no zebra crossing subway or foot overbridge FOB on the almostonekilometrelong stretch ldquoThe BMC should look into solutions for the pedestrian crossing also Otherwise all efforts will be fruitlessrdquo said a resident of Nariman PointTransport expert A V Shenoy said It is necessary to provide either a subway or FOB if pedestrian crossings are not feasible You canrsquot expect pedestrians to walk a kilometre to cross the roadrdquoRs 84lCost of erecting barrier