New Delisle Bridge Opens in Mumbai

The newly constructed Delisle Bridge in Lower Parel area provides East-West connectivity in central Mumbai.

On Thursday, Maharashtra minister and Mumbai's guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar dedicated a newly constructed Delisle Bridge in the Lower Parel area to the public. The bridge provides much-needed East-West connectivity in central Mumbai. Shiv Sena UBT leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who had "inaugurated" the bridge last week while protesting the "delay in opening it for traffic," was not present at the function.

Bridge to be Renamed

Guardian minister for the Mumbai suburban district Mangal Prasad Lodha, MLC Sunil Shinde who belongs to the Sena UBT, Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction MLA Sada Sarvankar and BJP MLAs Ashish Shelar and Kalidas Kolambkar were present at the function. Lodha suggested on this occasion that the bridge be renamed for an Indian personality.

Amenities

An escalator connected to the bridge would be ready in eight months, and till the time the footpath is constructed, a white line will demarcate the pedestrian zone, Kesarkar said. Recreational facilities including a garden and a sports ground will be developed under the bridge, he said. As per BMC officials, the new design of the bridge created nearly two acres of open space underneath.

History

The old, British-era Delisle bridge was dismantled in 2019 after the Railways declared it unsafe on the basis of an IIT Bombay report. The BMC started reconstruction of the bridge in 2020.

Controversy

Earlier this week, police registered a case against Thackeray, a former state minister, and a few others for throwing open a part of the structure without the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations BMC permission. Thackeray had claimed that the construction was complete but Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had no time to inaugurate it.

The opening of the new Delisle Bridge is a welcome development for Mumbai residents, providing much-needed connectivity and open space. The bridge is a testament to the city's resilience and determination to move forward, despite the challenges of the past few years.