A troubled Bridge

By: Tresha Guha
Thursday 6th, 2008

When Concern for Mumbai, a Mazagaon-based non government organisation (NGO), tackled and successfully painted and beautified Ollivant bridge at Mazagaon, little did they know that, they were in for a rude shock when BSP supporters defaced the entire bridge with their slogans and symbols, a few months back.

In addition to that, a few problems that need urgent attention are unfortunately being delayed. Says Abuzar Zakir, president, Concern for Mumbai, “The iron railings on Ollivant Bridge leading towards Burhani College are in a very bad state. These railings have literally been uprooted, and we are afraid that it may just fall on some students as St Mary’s School, MSB Institute and The Burhani College of Commerce and Arts are located nearby.”

Complaining to the authorities didnt help. Residents and members of Concern for Mumbai would run helter skelter as officials passed the buck between departments. Add to that the poor job being done by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) there. “The pavement near St Mary’s School was beautified by the MCGM using paver tiles.

Unfortunately, these tiles have sunk in. This definitely means that the concerned contractor has not done his job well. Also the pavement near Burhani College needs to be beautified with paver tiles. I hope the job is done well.”

While the MCGM has promised the residents that all this work would be undertaken by February 2008, nothing has been done till now. “First the buck was being passed between the bridges department and then the MCGM. Finally J V Patgaokar from the Bridges department promised us that they would undertaken repairs and repaint the bridge that has been defaced by BSP supporters.

They promised to do it in February and nothing has happened as yet. We have even offered to repaint the bridge again, but they are not giving us any permission.

” When contacted, Prakash Patil, E ward officer says, “The problem of the iron railings falls under the Bridges Department and they have informed us that they will be undertaking that work. The problem of the tiles on the footpath will be tackled by us and we have already started work on it.”