Mumbai sea link may close for few hours during Obama's visit

Mumbai: The already stuttering income of Mumbai Entry Point Limited (MEPL), the toll-collecting agency for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, might suffer even more on November 6.

The sea link could be closed for a few hours that day for the convoy of the visiting US President.

However, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) refused to confirm the closure and informed that they had not received any official instruction from the state government.

Two unidentified persons were spotted walking on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link yesterday, which is not open to pedestrians. It is not clear if they were securing the bridge or just strolling.

If the MSRDC has to close the sea link, there will be heavy vehicular traffic on Mahim causeway. But the bigger worry is the financial losses that MEPL will have to incur.

According to Jayant Mhaiskar, director of MEPL, around 36,000 vehicles use the sea link daily and around 2,000-2,500 vehicles use it per hour.

He confirmed that they have not received any official intimation from the MSRDC or the state government about the possibility of closing the sea link during Obama's visit.

Mhaiskar said, "Till date, we have not received any official letter or directions in this regard, but if we receive any such orders, we would follow them."

The daily toll collection on the sea link is around Rs. 17-19 lakh, much lower than the figures projected by the MSRDC (over Rs. 36 lakh daily) before the sea link was inaugurated, causing heavy losses to MEPL.

There have been past instances when the sea link was closed. In 2009, a Formula 1 Exhibition was organised by Red Bull for which they paid MSRDC Rs. 35 lakh, of which Rs. 21 lakh was to compensate for the day's toll collection.

However, an MEPL official on condition of anonymity, said that they were yet to receive that toll compensation.

And if the sea link is closed during Obama's visit, chances are that MEPL will not receive the toll compensation of around Rs. 2 lakh either.

When Mumbai's proud landmark completed a year on July 1, the toll agency had collected Rs. 56 crore up to June 30, as against Rs. 74 crore they paid to MSRDC to win the toll tender.

As per the projections made prior to inauguration of the sea link, an average of 80,000 vehicles were expected to use the bridge daily.

However, the current figure is only between 36,000 and 39,000 vehicles daily, contributing to daily collection of around Rs. 17-19 lakh.

Lung diseases second biggest killer by 2010

Mumbai: A report says that by 2020, lung diseases will become the second biggest killer globally. A new study finds that nearly half of Mumbai's traffic cops have severely damaged lungs.

A 100 million Indians suffer from some sort of respiratory diseases. Inhaling heavy traffic fumes everyday; these traffic policemen are perhaps the worst hit by rising air pollution levels.

And to raise awareness about the health hazards from toxic pollutants, on World Spirometry Day, 115 traffic policemen underwent free lung tests at Mumbai's SevenHills Hospital. The results have left many short of breath.

45 per cent traffic policemen had abnormal test results with weak lungs and reduced lung efficiency.

20 per cent were caught in the early stages of lung malfunction.

And the high level of suspended particulate matter (SPM), does more damage than just affecting the lungs. Forty-year-old Suresh Patil has been in the midst of toxic fumes for 15 long years.

Suresh Patil, traffic policeman, Mumbai said, “Five or six years ago, I was posted in a highly polluted area, as a result I've lost all my hair and my skin is also affected. Doctors said it’s because of pollution.

And ones who are new to the service are fully aware of the threat, but there's little they can do.

Suhas Patil, another traffic policeman in Mumbai said, “My complexion has darkened and when I go back in the night I face breathing problems and allergies.”

Avinash Bairagi, traffic policeman, Mumbai said, “We can wear masks with the uniform but we can't see properly with it. It also doesn't look good with the uniform.”

But if detected early, lung diseases can be treated, so the patients should watch out for warning signs.