Mumbai: Bridges, flyovers to be beautified with theme-based paintings, murals, artwork

Mumbai: All the bridges and flyovers in Mumbai will undergo a makeover by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with theme-based paintings, murals and art work. The civic body will beautify 32 bridges and flyovers in the first phase of the project. The estimated cost of the makeover is around Rs 5 crore. Work is expected to be completed in 18 months.

After an incident of bridge collapse in Mahad, Raigad district, in 2016, the BMC had conducted structural audits of all the bridges in the city. But within three years, the BMC had to re-audit 344 bridges after a portion of the Himalaya bridge in CSTM collapsed in March 2019, killing six people and injuring over 30. According to the audit report 14 bridges will be reconstructed. While major repairs of 47 and minor repairs of 176 bridges have been suggested.

The BMC had also decided to beautify the area below the flyovers and bridges and invited tender in October 2021. The proposal was approved in the BMC's standing committee meeting in March 2022.

"Major flyovers in the city will be painted based on uniqueness of its location. The theme-based paintings will be done in a phased manner," said the civic official.

Some bridges, flyovers being considered to beautify are one at Princess Street (Marine Drive), Kemps corner, French - Malabar Hill, Reay road bridge, Kenndey, Sion hospital, Currey Road bridge, Kavi Keshavsut flyover at Dadar.

"The art work going on at Matunga flyover shows how spaces below flyovers can be used for the benefit of the citizens. It is a good initiative by the BMC", said Ravi Raja, a senior Congress leader and former Opposition leader of the BMC. Chief engineer of BMC's bridge department Satish Thosar was not available for comment.

Published on: Saturday, June 25, 2022, 11:02 PM IST