BMC yet to pay for ROB, FOB repairs

Mumbai: Despite repeated reminders, the Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation (BMC) is yet to pay the funds to western railway (WR) for repairing the pathway of Gokhale road over bridge (ROB) of Andheri and dismantling of the Delisle Bridge at Lower Parel among others bridges. The WR demanded Rs 27 crore from the civic body for repairing, reconstructing and maintenance of the bridge.

WR sources said that if the civic body failed to pay the money before opening of the tender, the contract for the work might not be awarded. A copy of the letter that was addressed to civic body is in The Asian Age’s possession.

WR officials said that the tenders would be opened for the pathway of Gokhale ROB on August 6 and dismantling of the Delisle Bridge would be on August 16.

A senior officer of WR said, “Our intention is not to stop the work completely considering the emergency of the works but the BMC should avail funds as soon as possible otherwise, we will be forced to resort that option.”

According to the letter dated 26 July, during the various inspections, it has been found that there are many structures requiring repair of overhead structures in form of ROB, FOB or pipeline structures. Besides this, many complaints have been received for poor condition of BMC FOBs or skyalks.

The WR has asked to the BMC to pay Rs 27,18,41,000 for the repairing works including that of Gokhale Bridge.  

An officer said that second reminder especially for Gokhale ROB and Malad FOB among other five structures have been sent to civic body earlier in the week.

Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer of WR, said, “We have demanded Rs 27 crore for different works. We expect that they would provide it at earliest, otherwise the works may suffer.”