A day after the dismantling (demolishing) work of Patripool Bridge the public has been witnessing heavy traffic snarls because all vehicles are being diverted to the new Patripool Bridge.
Rajesh Jadhav, biker said, “I left my house at 8.30 am in Kalyan Kalatalaw area and was stuck in traffic for around 35 minutes due to traffic jams.”
Shivshankar Gupta, another motorist, said, “Autorickshaw drivers, who show no patience, drive carelessly. They butt into wherever there is space and create traffic jams.”
The Kalyan Patripool Bridge demolishion work was undertaken because the structure was in a dangerous condition. The 104-year-old bridge was built during British times. The bridge, which connects to Kalyan-Shilphata, Dombivli, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, was shut for all vehicles.
S.G. Suman, Senior Section Engineer from Central Railway, said, “Our team is going ahead with the work carefully. We have instructed the contractor to demolish half the bridge first, since there is a railway line going below the bridge. Now we are working on dismantling that part of the bridge which has the goods train route below it. There have been some untoward accidents such as rubble and debris falling down on track.”
The Patripool Bridge was shut after the audit structure by Central Railway, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and IIT Bombay team found it was in a dilapidated condition.
“Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will build a new bridge in a few months. Now the priority is to demolish it within 30 days,” Suman added.