Jogeshwari residents press poll candidates on flyover noise

Residents Demand Noise Barriers Ahead of Civic Polls

Mumbai: Residents of Jogeshwari West have been asking for noise barriers on the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray flyover for nearly four years. They are now raising this issue with candidates seeking votes ahead of the civic polls on January 15.

The flyover connects SV Road in Jogeshwari West with the WEH in the east. The second phase of the project, which connects the flyover to JVLR, is currently under construction.

Only a kilometre of the 2.2-km flyover opened to traffic in September 2015, linking Jogeshwari East and West. The second phase includes extending the bridge over the existing JVLR flyover and Mumbai Metro Line 7 on the Western Express Highway. It will end at the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road. The flyover is very close to several residential buildings, exposing residents to constant traffic noise.

Residents have approached the K-West ward office and the chief engineer (Bridges) to request noise barriers. They also wrote to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Bhushan Gagrani for help. When they received no response, they sent a legal notice to the civic body.

“The sound pollution is unbearable, especially due to honking and traffic snarls on the flyover. Despite several follow-ups, nothing has been done,” said Mansoor Darvesh, a resident coordinating with civic authorities. He added that with the civic body under an administrator due to the absence of corporators, they expected quicker action. “We are frustrated with how Gagrani has been ignoring our demands. Now that candidates are asking for votes, we have a chance to reopen the dialogue,” he said.

Ward 63 in Jogeshwari East is one affected area. Several political parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party, Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, and the Republican Party of India (Athawale), are contesting there.

Resident Shahnawaz Hussain questioned the selective implementation of noise barriers. He said, “Why are such barriers installed on only a few flyovers while others are ignored? The hardship we face daily due to noise pollution is immense.”

An RTI application filed last year by residents seeking reasons for the lack of noise barriers received a vague response from the BMC, citing “technical reasons.”

Residents said they are inclined to support candidates who promise to resolve the issue. However, Darvesh noted that most candidates focus on potholes, water supply, and sewage. “Except for one, all the candidates are first-timers and largely unaware of our problems. It is unfortunate that long-standing civic issues are being ignored even as votes are being sought,” he said.