Row over naming of new Vidyavihar flyover: Nana Patekar or Captain Smit Machhar
Shiv Sena (UBT) wants the new Vidyavihar flyover named after actor Nana Patekar, while BJP MLA Parag Shah has proposed Captain Smit Machhar.
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A new east-west flyover has been built near Vidyavihar railway station in Mumbai. The bridge is due to open to traffic soon, but a dispute over its name has already begun. The question is whom the bridge should be named after, and politics over it has heated up.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party wants the bridge named after actor Nana Patekar. On the other side, Ghatkopar BJP MLA Parag Shah has suggested the name of Captain Smit Machhar. Shah says Captain Machhar saved the lives of 180 air passengers.
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers have even put up a banner on the bridge. The banner demands that the flyover be named "Padma Shri Nana Patekar Setu". Earlier this week, a party delegation met Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. During the meeting, the party also handed over a letter demanding that the bridge be named after Nana Patekar.
Nana Patekar is a veteran actor of Marathi and Hindi films. Besides his acting, he is also known for his work for society. On this basis, the demand is being raised to name the bridge after him.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Parag Shah has sent the demand for Captain Smit Machhar's name to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. It is said that Captain Machhar played a key role in saving the lives of the 180 passengers aboard the aircraft, and his name has been proposed for that reason.
The naming issue has thus come into discussion even before the inauguration. All eyes are now on which of the two demands is approved.
Along with the naming dispute, the cost of the bridge is also under discussion. During construction, the alignment of the approach road on the western side was changed. It is said that this averted the need to displace 53 flat owners. However, the change raised the cost of building the approach road by Rs 10.62 crore.
The cost of the work was initially Rs 95.55 crore. After the increase, it has risen to more than Rs 106 crore. While preparations for the inauguration are under way, the naming row and the higher cost are both being talked about by people.
It remains to be seen whom the Vidyavihar flyover will be named after and what decision the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation takes on it.
