Mumbai’s East-West Vidyavihar bridge has become the centre of a naming dispute ahead of its opening to traffic, with Shiv Sena (UBT) seeking the name ‘Padma Shri Nana Patekar Setu’ and BJP MLA Parag Shah proposing that it be named after commercial pilot Captain Smit Machchhar.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) recently installed a banner on the newly constructed bridge demanding that it be named after actor Nana Patekar. Earlier, Shah approached the authorities with a request to name the structure after Machchhar, who was hailed as a hero after thwarting a violent mid-air hijacking of a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight.
A delegation of Sena (UBT) leaders also met Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde earlier this week and submitted a letter seeking approval for the Patekar name. Tawde could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts, according to the report.
The dispute has emerged as the civic project approaches its operational phase. The 650-metre-long, two-lane bridge connects Ramchandra Chemburkar Marg on the eastern side of Vidyavihar railway station with Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg on the western side in Ghatkopar. A 100-metre section of the bridge passes over railway tracks, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
BMC leader of the house Ganesh Khankar accused the Sena (UBT) of creating a controversy to claim credit for the naming proposal. “Nana Patekar was one of the most talented actors in the country. I feel that it would be more fitting to name a large theatre or a theatre complex after him rather than a bridge,” Khankar said.
The bridge’s approach roads measure 220 metres on the eastern side and 330 metres on the western side. The project also includes access links connecting the structure to the railway station’s footpaths, as well as reconstruction of ticket booking offices, the station master’s office and staircases, the civic body said.
The competing proposals place the naming issue alongside the bridge’s practical role in connecting the eastern and western sides of the railway station area. The structure is expected to provide a direct road link across the railway tracks once it is opened to traffic. The authorities have not announced a final name for the bridge in the supplied report.
