Ajoy Mehta: Railways will construct Parel ROB

Mumbai: Uncertainty over the reconstruction of the Lower Parel rail overbridge (ROB), known as Delisle Bridge, still looms. Now, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it clear that the bridge has to be built by Western Railways, while the civic body will bear the costs.

BMC chief Ajoy Mehta on Wednesday held a special meeting of civic and railway officials on the issue of the reconstruction of the Lower Parel ROB. In the meeting, Mr Mehta clarified that the railways would construct the bridge as it lies in their jurisdiction and the expenses will be paid by the BMC.

“As per sections 17 and 19 of the Railway Act, the railways would have to construct the bridges which fall in their jurisdiction. Apart from bearing the construction cost, the BMC will also construct the approach road towards the bridge. The approach road construction will be done as per railway drawings and the BMC will bear the expenses for it,” said a senior civic official.

However, Ravinder Bhakar, WR chief PRO, said, “We are yet to decide who will build the bridge as many things will have be cleared first,” he said.

The Lower Parel ROB, also known as Delisle Bridge, has been closed since Tuesday, after an audit deemed the structure unsafe owing to corrosion. However, no consensus has been reached so far with the BMC and railways over who would construct the bridge.