Don't dance on weak bridges: BMC

Mumbai: This year, Mumbai’s well-known ganeshotsav processions are likely to have less crowd due to the crumbling bridges in the city. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued an advisory to Ganesh mandals asking them to have less number of people in their procession and also to avoid the dilapidated bridges in the city.

After a foot overbridge connecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) collapsed, the civic body had ordered a structural audit of about 300 bridges. The audit found 29 bridges to be “extremely dangerous” requiring immediate demolition.

The Indian Institute of technology (IIT-Bombay) in its audit recently had found four road overbridges (ROB) at Byculla, Chinchpokli, Currey Road-Parel and Ghatkopar unsafe and recommended strict curbs, which includes speed restriction of 30 kmph for vehicular traffic and ban on vehicles weighing over 16 tonnes.

“During processions of well-known ganesh mandals, lakhs of devotees participate and dance together. The load on the bridge will exceed the weight limit of 16 tonnes. Many idols are brought via Chinchpokli Bridge. An advisory has been issued to all Ganesh mandals to avoid overloading on old, dangerous bridges. Moreover, the BMC has also instructed us to avoid singing and dancing on such bridges which may cause more damage,” said Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti president, Naresh Dahibavkar. The Ganpati festival will start from September 2.

Mayor of Mumbai Vish-wanath Mahade-shwar said, “There are numeroud bridges in Mumbai that are in dangerous conditions and during Ganpati processions, precautions needs to be taken. In this regard, I have conducted a meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ganpati mandals representatives”.

Deadline for online forms

The BMC has extended the deadline for online applications for erecting pandals. The earlier deadline was August 19, which now will be August 24 till 5.30 pm. The BMC has made it compulsory that all sarvajanik ganpati mandals should have prior permissions to erect pandals which has to be obtained online through MCGM website by uploading required documents.