MUMBAI: Despite strong opposition from Ashish Shelar, BJP MLA from Bandra (West), as well as resident associations and citizen groups from the suburb, the BMC recently issued work orders for its Rs 167.9 crore walkway- cum-cycling track from Bandra Fort to Mahim Fort. Work orders were issued to the Unique Construction-Speco Infrastructure joint venture despite a letter to civic commissioner Iqbal Chahal from Shelar in which he had pointed out that the nearly 3.6km walkway-cum-cycle track will cost Rs 44.65 crore per kilometre, which is 500% more than the cost of constructing national highways.
BMC officials said the track will be 6 metres wide with a walkway for pedestrians and a cycle track. "The cycle track will be 2.5 metres wide and the remaining space will be for pedestrians. The site track will be on single monolithic poles erected on a pile foundation with interconnecting primary and secondary beams. The boardwalk will be of composite wooden material," said a senior civic official.
Shelar said local residents were still opposed to the cycle track. "All local residents are opposed to it and I will make a representation before the municipal commissioner demanding that this contract be scrapped. There is an existing promenade which must be beautified. The cycle track will create nuisance and also lead to security issues. This contract must be scrapped," he said.
Shelar had told the BMC the project was poorly planned. "This project has been hurriedly planned, approved without any consideration of local ground realities […]
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