Mumbai: A day after the foot overbridge (FoB) collapse nearby CSMT, Congress state president Ashok Chavan has demanded Brihanm-umbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta and BMC mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar to be sacked. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar led NCP on Friday demanded the government should scrap the bullet train project and use the money for upgrading suburban rail and connecting services.
Addressing a press conference at the residence of Leader of Opposition in the Council, Dhananjay Munde, NCP chief Sharad Pawar demanded white paper (report on current status) on bridges of Mumbai.
Mr Pawar said that 1.25 lakh crore to be spent on the bullet train, should be spent over Mumbai local and other railway circles. In addition to this, the networks on Mumbai to Delhi, Delhi to Kolkata, Kolkata to Chennai, Chennai to Mumbai corridors should be strengthened, he added.
Referring to a letter sent by railway authorities to executive engineer of public works department (PWD) dated November 8, 2015, Mr Pawar said, the authorities had brought attention towards the dilapidated condition of a bridge that crosses Eastern Express Highway, which has not yet been resolved. The NCP chief said, “There is a need to inspect each FoB and RoB and the probe should be conducted into the FoB collapse incident.”
Earlier in the day, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad said that scrapping of the bullet train project will be a part of the party’s manifesto and it will be done within one month of it coming to power.
Mr Chavan said that Mumbai has been facing deadly accidents, which are sponsored by the BMC and the state government. Due to lethargic and corrupt approach of the BJP-Shiv Sena, the lives of Mumbaikars have become very difficult.
Mr Chavan further said that the repeated incidents of bridge collapses and fire in buildings have led to loss of Mumbaikars lives.
“The shameless and irresponsible administration has led to such incidents, yet they do not have any sense of responsibility for the same. This is very disturbing. If the BJP and Shiv Sena would have shame, the mayor and BMC chief should immediately be sacked,” Mr Chavan added.
