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Journalism of Courage
As the newly opened Vikhroli bridge witnessed flooding during the heavy rains over the past few days, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to create waterholes on the two-month-old bridge for an improved discharge of accumulated rainwater.
Built at a cost of Rs 180 crore, the 480 metres long bridge was opened for traffic in June. However, after heavy rains battered Mumbai between August 16 and 19, recording over 900 mm within a four-day period, the bridge witnessed waterlogging, affecting traffic movement.
As photos and videos of the newly opened bridge surfaced on social media, the BMC came under the criticism. Following this, the officials carried out an inspection at the site on Thursday.A senior civic official told The Indian Express, “The bridge got inundated because plastic material entered the drain and choked the outflow. The plastics were removed after the local ward office was alerted and soon after the water got drained out.”
The officials said that they have mooted creation of waterholes on the boundary wall of the bridge to ensure the discharge of water as an alternative.
“The water accumulation was more this time because the intensity of rain was three times than average. Therefore, to ensure that there is an added outlet of water discharge, we will be creating waterhole on the walls,” the official added.
The Vikhroli bridge connects the Eastern Express Highway in the east with Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg in the west of Vikhroli in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs. The idea of building this bridge was conceived in 1997. However, construction could begin only in 2018.
This is country’s longest bridge, with an open-web-girder system passing above railway tracks. After becoming operational, the Vikhroli ROB has brought down commute time to seven minutes which earlier used to take 25-30 minutes.
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