Activists frown on PMC’s overbridge-with-lifts plan

FOBs built so far hardly used by pedestrians, Standing Committee approves Rs 10 crore for construction of two overpasses with lifts

Activists frown on PMC's overbridge-with-lifts plan

FOBs built so far hardly used by pedestrians, Standing Committee approves Rs 10 crore for construction of two overpasses with lifts

Atu00a0a time when several foot-overbridges (FOBs) in the city stand untrodden, the civic body is planning a couple of them. This time with lifts.u00a0 Not too happy are Punekars, who are well aware the funding for the project will be liberally scooped from the tax kitty. These FOBs with lifts will come up at Sinhagad road in Santosh Hall chowk and at the Vishrantwadi junction. The PMC hit upon the idea of building lifts, as steep steps on the previous FOBs have kept off pedestrians. "The Sinhagad road FOB will cost around Rs 3.3 crore, while the Vishrantwadi FOB will cost Rs 6.3 crore," said Ganesh Bidkar, Standing Committee Chairman and BJP corporator.

"The PMC has submitted its feedback on the creation of subways as per the JNNURM road reconstruction scheme. The administration felt it was not feasible to construct a subway on Sinhagad road, as it's difficult to shift the underground utilities." Social activists are questioning the PMC's motive behind installing such lifts at FOBs. The PMC has already wasted money on constructing FOBs and now they are spending more money to force people into using the defunct FOBs, they said.

"The PMC should be clear about their proposals before making them public. Several questions pertaining to the maintenance, operation and costs of the FOB with lifts have been left unanswered," said Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch. "The lifts will have to be erected on the roads. What will happen if there is a power cut? What about safety of citizens, budget for round-the-clock service? The PMC will have to answer these questions soon."

Unused fobs
Bharti Vidyapeeth College; Satara road; Sarasbaug; Collector Office (now removed); SNDT College; Karve road