COMMUTERS' FATE HANGS IN BALANCE

The fate of the incomplete Andheri flyover, which is creating innumerable problems for residents and motorists, may be decided in the Mumbai High Court today, when the case comes up for hearing.

The construction work, which is still halted despite an HC order, may start soon thanks to a directive by he cash-strapped state government to the Maharashtra
State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to pay Mahakali Construction Company. floated by builder V M Jog, for the flyover work completed so far. With this development, the deadlock which existed over the payment to Jog could be resolved. However, the court has set aside the issue of the commercial exploitation of the land below the flyover for the time being.

As it is known, the high court had directed the state government to pay Jog for the construction work already completed. However, the Public Works Department (PWD) and the finance officials failed to reach a consensus on the amount to be paid and who would make the payment. For the last 18 months, the construction of the flyover has been halted following a writ petition filed by the Bombay Environment zAction Group (BEAG). The petition alleged that the commercial use of the space below the flyover would cause traffic jams, and also FSI rules had been violated while allowing the flyover to come up.

Meanwhile, the incomplete flyover has been causing heavy pollution in the area, and motorists are being forced to spend a lot of time in passing through the three junctions over which the bridge will be constructed. Dr Bakul Mehta, associated with the Home for Paraplegics recaIIs the day last month when an ambulance took about two and a half hours to reach Jaslok Hospital where a patient had to be transferred. Speaking to Bombay Times, he said, "In this area, it’s quite cornmon to see siren-wailing ambulance desperately trying to weave their way through heavy traffic."

Last week, Sarla Tejani, a house wife residing in Andheri, got anxious when her son’s school bus coming from Juhu arrived almost 90 minutes behind schedule. The bus driver told the worried parents that the vehicle was held up in traffic. In another instance, Mukesh Khanna, who plays the powerf -ul Shaktimaan on the small screen, missed a flight recently when he got stuck in a traffic jam on the highway at Andheri. It took him over two and a half hours to cross a distance of not more than four kilometres!

One only hopes that the issue is resolved in the court once and for all.

Coutsey : The Times of India, Bombay Times (13/09/2000)