BMC Opens Vikhroli East-West ROB Silently Without Footpaths & Dividers; Commuters Raise Safety Concerns

The newly opened Vikhroli rail overbridge (ROB) in Mumbai is under criticism for its planning and design. Commuters have come forward and raised safety concerns about the bridge, which opened to traffic just a few days ago, for lacking basic infrastructure. It does not have dividers between its three lanes and footpaths for pedestrians. Not only that, even the cat reflectors have gone missing from the roads. 

Commuters Question Planning And Design Of Vikhroli ROB

🟩Construction of Vikhroli New Road Over Bridge (ROB). pic.twitter.com/ES77QvCwye

— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) November 21, 2023

As per a report in The Times of India, the Vikhroli rail overbridge is being criticised just days after it opened. Although the bridge was launched to improve east-west connectivity in the area, its design is now under fire. Commuters have pointed out that the two-way bridge has only three lanes, and it has no central divider or pedestrian footpaths. This design, according to residents, puts commuter safety at serious risk. Locals have also highlighted that several newly reconstructed bridges across Mumbai are missing pedestrian spaces. Recently rebuilt bridges like Delisle Road (Lower Parel) and Gokhale (Andheri) also lack proper footpaths. 

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Three-Lane Bridge Without Dividers

A BMC official from the bridges department stated that the Vikhroli bridge is 12 metres wide, and its three-lane carriageway was designed as per an earlier general administrative drawing. Former Congress corporator Sheetal Mhatre also questioned the lane arrangement, asking whether the middle lane is for each side on a first-come, first-served basis. Meanwhile, a resident pointed out that authorities took nearly seven years to complete the bridge but still failed to include necessities like footpaths and central dividers. He also mentioned that the bridge’s cat reflectors, essential for visibility and night-time driving, have already gone missing.

Also Read: Mumbai: When Will Ghatkopar RoB Bridge Open? Its Not End-2025, For Sure

BMC opened the Vikhroli rail overbridge on June 14 without a formal inauguration. BMC announced the project in 2018, but the COVID-19 lockdown delayed its progress. Despite the long wait, its infrastructure, planning and design have left many residents disappointed. 

Cover Image Courtesy: @Central_Railway/ X