Social worker Pandurang Tirthe has urged Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde to cancel the proposed flyover at Turbhe Store on the Thane-Belapur Highway and instead construct three pedestrian bridges to address the safety concerns of residents and commuters.

In his letter, Tirthe highlighted the pressing need for pedestrian infrastructure, noting that residents, school children, and workers in the MIDC area are forced to cross the busy highway daily, risking their lives. Over the past decade, 22 fatalities and more than 50 injuries have been reported at Turbhe Store due to vehicle accidents.

A tender for a pedestrian bridge at the location was issued six to seven years ago, but the project was shelved as the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) failed to secure a contractor.

Meanwhile, the construction of a flyover at the site has been plagued with delays. Awarded to M/s Mahavir Roads Infrastructure Private Limited, the project has yet to progress beyond its foundation. Initially scheduled to be completed within 18 months, the deadline was extended by another 16 months, with the new completion date set for January 24, 2025. However, significant progress remains elusive.

Tirthe argued that the prolonged delays and lack of tangible progress make the flyover project untenable and impractical. He emphasized that pedestrian bridges would serve the community more effectively by ensuring safer road crossings and reducing the risk of accidents.