MUMBAI: With nine deaths reported in the last six months, the city’s iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) has become the new suicide point for motorists. The state government, though, has expressed its helplessness to check the spate of suicides as it cannot raise the height of the railings of the country’s first bridge, which passes over and above the middle of the ocean.
The police have found a pattern to the suicides on BWSL. The motorists with suicidal tendency enter BWSL, stop their vehicles midway violating the rules before jumping into the deep sea.
On Monday, Vikram Vasudev, 45, became the latest person to end his life by jumping from BWSL. An instructor with a technical education institute, Vasudev had reportedly lapsed into depression following his son’s death.
Even though the experts have suggested that the height of the railings of the 4.8 km-long BWSL be raised above the present four feet to deter those suffering from death wish, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)-- which looks after the bridge-- has maintained that it was not possible for it to raise the railings’ height without the Centre’s nod.
“The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had approved the design of the bridge. The construction of the bridge was allowed as a special case. We can’t make changes to the design without their approval,” said a senior MSRDC official. The official said that the Corporation had deployed squads on motor bikes to keep a tab on the errant motorists. They will come into action as soon as any vehicle makes a midway halt on the bridge.
“The squads have been authorised to take the driver into custody if he or she gets out of the vehicle,” the official said.
Taking note of the growing number of suicides, former journalist Ketan Tirodkar has filed a PIL with the Bombay High Court demanding measures to prevent the suicides. According to Tirodkar, the bridge has only six CCTV cameras whereas it needs at least 80.
“The amount of toll collection at the WBSL is expected to reach around Rs 100 crore by the end of 2014. A part of this amount should be used for the commuters’ security,” he said.
Suicide at BWSL was first highlighted after Lalit Sheth, a well-known businessman, ended his life by jumping off it on August one, 2012. The owner of Raj Travels, Sheth was facing financial problems. The nine people, who ended their lives by flinging themselves from BWSL, include three businessmen and an employee of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.