Why should army build bridge at Mumbai station: Oppn

MUMBAI: A month after 23 people were killed in a stampede on a bridge at Mumbai's Elphinstone Road train station, the government has turned to the army for a new bridge. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Tuesday that the army would build a bridge at the site by January 31, provoking an outcry from Opposition parties. Will army fill up potholes next, derided the opposition Congress.

Visiting the Elphinstone Road Station with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Fadnavis said: "The army said they could build a bridge in a short span...We are taking the Army's help in building a new foot overbridge at the Elphinstone Road station and two other suburban train stations in Mumbai."

The army "has its role at the borders", but it was roped in because of the urgency, explained Nirmala Sitharaman.

At the venue, Goyal said, "Army officers along with senior railway officials have done a survey at these stations and have given an assurance to erect the FOBs at these stations by the end of January 2018."

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticised the central government s decision to rope in the Indian Army for rebuilding the Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai, terming it as "deplorable" and "an admission of the failure" of the government and the Indian Railways.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah criticised the move saying:"The army was to be a measure of last resort to be called upon in extreme emergency. Now it seems like it's the 1st (first) number on the speed dial," Omar wrote on Twitter.

Last year, the Army built a floating bridge on the river Yamuna for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's "Art of Living" event that was controversial because of environmental violations.

This year, soldiers were called in to keep an eye on those throwing waste into the river Ganga and to clean up tourist garbage in high altitude areas.