Elphinstone stampede: Committee to probe delay in tender for new footbridge

Then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had assured a Shiv Sena MP last year that a wider bridge would be built in its place. In a letter dated February 20, 2016, Prabhu had written to Sena MP from Mumbai

Railway Ministry on Wednesday constituted a high-level committee to probe 18-month delay in the tender of a new foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road station.

The committee will be headed by former CVC Pratyush Sinha and will submit its report within three months.

In a stampede incident on September 29 at Elphinstone railway station, at least 22 people were killed, including four women. Also, 39 people were injured.

Then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had assured a Shiv Sena MP last year that a wider bridge would be built in its place. In a letter dated February 20, 2016, Prabhu had written to Sena MP from Mumbai Arvind Sawant that the "construction of 12 meters wide new foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road was under the positive consideration of Railway Ministry."

Construction of the new bridge, connecting Western Railway and Central Railway after the extension of Platform No 1 and 2 towards north side by 100 metres, was under "positive consideration" of the Ministry, Prabhu had written in the letter accessed by PTI.

After the stampede at Elphinstone Road station, people came to know that an additional foot overbridge had already been sanctioned for and tender was floated for the same. Rs 9.5 Crore was sanctioned by Railway Ministry for the project.

OneIndia News