Mumbai stampede: Ex-Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu sanctioned Rs 11.86 cr for new foot-over bridge in 2015

Former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had sanctioned a fund of Rs 11.86 crore for the construction of a wider bridge at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station that witnessed a deadly stampede on Friday, said a report.

New Delhi: Former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had sanctioned a Rs 11.86 fund for the construction of a wider bridge at Mumbai's Elphinstone railway station that witnessed a deadly stampede on Friday.

At least 22 people died and dozens were left injured after a stampede took place at Elphinstone railway station's foot-over bridge in Mumbai. 

Commuters claimed that foot-over bridge at Elphinstone was narrow and was always crowded during the peak hours and that several appeals were made to the government in this regard. 

Now, it has been found that former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had in 2015 sanctioned Rs. 11.86 crore for construction of a new foot-over bridge at Elphinstone station.

In a letter dated February 20, 2016, addressed to Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai Arvind Sawant, Prabhu stated that the construction of a 12-metre wide new foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road was under the positive consideration of Railways Ministry.

Reply from @RailMinIndia on 20 Feb 2016 stating dat they've positively considered my demand for #Elphinstone Road new FOB Construction.. pic.twitter.com/ahlCHiKQwU — Arvind Sawant (@AGSawant) September 29, 2017

"It has been one of the toughest years for the Indian Railways because of the adverse effects of the global slowdown. Even in these challenging times the following Railways works in your constituency is under our positive consideration," the letter said.

The former Railway Minister also considered about the extension of the bridge by 100 metres on the north side, said the letter.

"Elphinstone Road-construction of 12 m wide new FOB connecting western railways and central railways after extension of platform number 1 and 2 towards north side by 100 meters," Prabhu stated in the letter.

The construction work on the bridge was supposed to have taken place in 2016-17. 

However, it remains not known why the project never took off.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra state government announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to families of the dead and free medical treatment to the injured.