Fourteen years after it was planned, the construction of the Kurla Subway, a pedestrian facility that runs under Kurla railway station, will finally begin and be completed by December 2016. The subway, being built at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.89 crore, will provide east to west connectivity for Kurla residents.
Replying to RTI queries by activist Anil Galgali, the Central Railway’s Executive Engineer (Construction), K. Prabhakaran, said a fresh contract for construction was awarded to Solapur-based firm M/s. Mahesh Roopchandani in 2014, with the deadline set for December 2016. The project is being implemented in collaboration by the Central Railway and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The CR had earlier spent Rs. 3.84 crore on a 129.9-metre long tunnel under the Main and Harbour Lines at Kurla railway station. The 7.6-metre wide and 2.6-metre high tunnel was left incomplete due to administrative,technical and political issues. Now, CR will provide an additional Rs. 2.11 crore for the completion of the project, Mr. Prabhakaran said.
The BMC has the task of constructing a 13-metre long approach road to the western side of the subway in Kurla (West), at a cost of Rs. 2.94 crore. In his reply, F.A. Chavhan, Executive Engineer (Bridges), Eastern Suburbs, BMC, said work on the approach road began in February 15, 2016 and is slated to be completed in nine months, excluding the monsoon ones.
Mr. Galgali said, “This incomplete project had proved to be a stupendous waste of resources even after crores were spent by both agencies [CR and BMC]. I have been following up on the project, and now CR and BMC authorities seem to have better coordination. I hope it will be completed on time and provide connectivity between Kurla East and West, initially to pedestrians.”
He added that the subway would be particularly convenient for the elderly and children who cannot climb the existing foot overbridge. The subway is also expected to bring down the number of casualties on the tracks at Kurla railway station, as many commuters and pedestrians try to cross the railway tracks to reach the other side, Mr Galgali said.
Shiv Sena corporator from Nehru Nagar Dr. Anuradha Pednekar told The Hindu, “ This was a project initiated by Manohar Joshi in 2002. Then there were some problems related to its funding. There were some political problems too, and VJTI experts were asked to assess the utility of the project. They opined that it is a low-lying area where water will accumulate and will lead to congestion if opened to vehicular traffic, so the project remained incomplete. Now, the BMC has already started work on it, and I have been demanding that at least two-wheelers be allowed to use it, besides pedestrians.”
Ms. Pednekar said when complete, it will be very helpful for Kurla residents as the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) sees heavy traffic, and the only other connecting roads are from Sion and Ghatkopar.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena corporator Dilip Lande, however, felt the subway was no longer needed. “The Kurla Subway was essential earlier, but now, with the SCLR, it is no longer such a priority issue. Besides, the subway is located in a traditional low-lying area where water accumulates every monsoon. If it is completed, it will obviously be welcome, but it was never allowed to be completed due to politics by Manohar Joshi and the NCP’s Nawab Malik, who wanted SCLR to be completed.”
The Kurla Subway was essential earlier, but now, with the SCLR, it is no longer such a priority issue.Dilip LandeMNS corporator
Thetunnel, built
by CR, was not finished due to technical and
political issues
