BMC allows traffic on two new lanes built on either side of the bridge even as compensation package issue remains unresolved
Vehicles have been diverted to the new lanes as the work to reconstruct the old Malad bridge has kicked off, as seen on Monday. Pics/Sameer Markande
The BMC has opened the new lanes built on either side of the SV Road bridge in Malad and started work on the old dilapidated bridge. This despite the issue of compensation to be given to shops and structures which sit on the alignment of the new lanes remaining unresolved. Though the new lanes have been opened, as the vehicles have to take a turn while accessing the lanes, the traffic movement is slow.
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mid-day had in a series of reports in November and December highlighted the issue of compensation which was delaying the opening of the new lanes. The work on the bridge, which falls on the busy SV Road, started in December 2019. The work was then delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown. The work on the two extra lanes was completed in 2022.
These new lanes were to be opened before the work on the old bridge, which is in a dilapidated condition, could start. However, there are 16 shops along the new lanes which need to be demolished before the lanes could be opened for traffic. This process was delayed as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is yet to finalise the compensation package for these shops.
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Compensation still in limbo
The civic body started the process of approval after mid-day’s report in November. However, three months on, the issue is yet to be settled. Assistant Municipal Commissioner of P North ward Kiran Dighavkar said, “The file [on compensation package] has now moved to the development plan department after a nod from the civic chief. The monetary compensation, as per the BMC policy, will be deposited in the accounts of the shop owners and we will clear the site by next week.”
The shopkeepers, however, are yet to accept the compensation. Last week, they held a meeting with ward officials over this. One of the affected shopkeepers said, “We also want to shift so that this bottleneck is cleared and the bridge is opened. However, the BMC has offered us compensation as per their current policy. But if one follows the Central government’s policy, we should get double the ready reckoner rate. So, we will wait till BMC figures out the policy for compensation. We are also considering legal ways to fight for our rights.”
Water line to be shifted
With the opening of the two new lanes, the BMC has started the work on the old bridge. The reconstruction work also involves shifting of a main water line which runs under the bridge.
An official from BMC’s bridges department said, “The work of the diversion of the water main has started. The reconstruction of the dilapidated part will start in two weeks. Traffic has been diverted to the lanes on the side, but that is a temporary adjustment. The structures must be removed to increase the speed of vehicles as traffic takes more time on curves. Also, it is necessary to clear the bottleneck as the bridge is now 90 feet but the width of the road on either end of the bridge is still 45 feet.” The bridge runs over a 10-metre-wide nullah. Though the width of SV Road is around 90 feet, the old bridge was 45-foot wide. With the construction of the new lanes, the bridge is now 90-foot-wide, but the shops pose a hurdle in direct access from the road to the new lanes.
2022
Year when work on the two new lanes was completed
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