This is an archive article published on March 30, 2023
Himalaya FOB to open for public today
“This bridge is currently in an operational state; therefore, we are opening it so that it brings respite to the people who travel to south Mumbai every day. Simultaneously, the work for building the escalator will be ongoing,” said an official.
After the collapse incident in 2019, the BMC had floated tenders for constructing a new bridge. The latest structure has been made by using steel and the blueprint of this project states that the FOB will have an escalator on one side.
The Himalaya Foot-over-Bridge (FOB), which was closed for reconstruction, is finally set to be opened for public from Thursday. The FOB connects the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) building with the Anjuman-I-Islam and passes over D N Road in south Mumbai. Located at the commercial hub of downtown Mumbai, this FOB used to cater to thousands of pedestrians. In March 2019, six persons died and 31 were injured after a major portion of this bridge collapsed during evening peak hour. A senior civic official told The Indian Express, “The work for the new bridge has been completed. It will be opened for the public from Thursday.”
After the collapse incident in 2019, the BMC had floated tenders for constructing a new bridge. The latest structure has been made by using steel and the blueprint of this project states that the FOB will have an escalator on one side. However, officials have stated that as of now, one staircase will be operational and the escalator will be started within the next few months.
“This bridge is currently in an operational state; therefore, we are opening it so that it brings respite to the people who travel to south Mumbai every day. Simultaneously, the work for building the escalator will be ongoing,” said an official.
The new bridge is a fabricated steel structure which has been constructed at a workshop in Bhubaneshwar.
Unlike the previous bridge which had conventional staircases on both the ends, this new walkway bridge will have an elevator on one side along with a ’dog-legged-staircase’, which takes less space than usual.
The BMC had initially set a 15-month deadline for building the new bridge. However, officials said he process of acquiring NOCs from the traffic police as well as the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee delayed the process.
“D N Road, which runs below the bridge, is frequented by vehicles throughout the day and till late night. This has delayed the deadline. Another contributing factor was the pandemic-induced lockdown… being a heritage precinct, the procedure of acquiring NOCs also took some time,” added the official.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
