Closing Mumbai’s British-era Elphinstone Bridge is like ripping off a band-aid. Residents have been against the move, fearing traffic chaos, displacement. Clearances from multiple agencies took forever. Status-quoism and nostalgia often hold up development. The bridge’s demolition is key for completing the half-constructed east-west connector to the showpiece Atal Setu.
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Unfortunately, this a half-baked opinion without understanding core issues highlighted by residents in the area. Firstly, This is bridge is a key arterial road which connects to hospitals, schools and office goers. There are no feasible alternative provisions being made for regular commuters, residents, doctors. So called alternatives proposed are going to turn minutes into hours. In Mumbai, infrastructure projects like these have been implemented with no time-bound mechanism.
Secondly, the bridge is adjacent to residential areas with huildings that go back deacadsses and no clear attempt has been made to rehabilitate these residents.
Instead of doing research simply dismissing legimtiate concerns of residents as nostalgia and status quoism from air-conditioned offices reeks of privilege with complete disregard of ground realities.
Unfortunately, this a half-baked opinion without understanding core issues highlighted by residents in the area. Firstly, This is bridge is a key arterial road which connects to hospitals, schools and office goers. There are no feasible alternative provisions being made for regular commuters, residents, doctors. So called alternatives proposed are going to turn minutes into hours. In Mumbai, infrastructure projects like these have been implemented with no time-bound mechanism.
Secondly, the bridge is adjacent to residential areas with huildings that go back deacadsses and no clear attempt has been made to rehabilitate these residents.
Instead of doing research simply dismissing legimtiate concerns of residents as nostalgia and status quoism from air-conditioned offices reeks of privilege with complete disregard of ground realities.
Unfortunately, this a half-baked opinion without understanding core issues highlighted by residents in the area. Firstly, This is bridge is a key arterial road which connects to hospitals, schools and office goers. There are no feasible alternative provisions being made for regular commuters, residents, doctors. So called alternatives proposed are going to turn minutes into hours. In Mumbai, infrastructure projects like these have been implemented with no time-bound mechanism.
Secondly, the bridge is adjacent to residential areas with huildings that go back deacadsses and no clear attempt has been made to rehabilitate these residents.
Instead of doing research simply dismissing legimtiate concerns of residents as nostalgia and status quoism from air-conditioned offices reeks of privilege with complete disregard of ground realities.