New bridge opens access to Titwala villagers

June 18: Over 80,000 inhabitants of 15 villages between Titwala, Khadavli and Vasind will now have direct access to Kalyan and Mumbai fol...

June 18: Over 80,000 inhabitants of 15 villages between Titwala, Khadavli and Vasind will now have direct access to Kalyan and Mumbai following the inauguration of a new bridge across the Kalu river on Wednesday.

The 7.50 m wide two-way bridge built at an estimated cost of Rs 1.50 crore has fulfilled the long-standing demand of the villagers who had to take a 35 km detour via Bhiwandi. Over hundred persons lost their lives in country crafts and boats which capsized while ferrying passengers across the river which dries up only during April-June period.

However, villagers have their reservations about the new bridge. A villager requesting anonymity pointed out the water mark which is several feet above the bridge level. quot;This will leave us cut off like before during the monsoon in spite of the new bridge,quot; another said. Confirming this officials from the Public Works Department PWD stated, 8220;The bridge has been designed for submergence so this will not affect the structure and it can be used when thewaters recede.quot;

Earlier, addressing the meeting near the bridge local MLA Digmabar Vishe BJP said, quot;There will soon be state transport buses plying on this route making it easier for the local populace to travel from Kalyan to Vasind and back.quot; He pointed out that as many as 49 bus services from the Kalyan MSRTC stand which were affected due to the introduction of the Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Transport buses on these routes would be relocated to Shahapur and Murbad so that new routes can be started and frequency improved on the existing ones.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of another new bridge across the Murbadi river after a truck rammed into the railings of the new bridge damaging it seriously. None in the PWD department could explain how a truck was plying on the bridge before its formal inauguration.