Mumbai: Political tussle over Vidyavihar bridge name divides parties
Mumbai civic politics has turned to nomenclature after a newly constructed East–West bridge at Vidyavihar became the centre of a naming dispute between Shiv Sena (UBT) activists and the BJP. The controversy, disclosed in recent reports, has seen competing proposals to name the structure after veteran actor Nana Patekar and Indian commercial pilot Captain Smit Machchhar.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been approached by both sides. A delegation from Shiv Sena (UBT) met Mayor Ritu Tawde earlier this week and submitted a letter requesting the bridge be named “Padma Shri Nana Patekar Setu”, according to a PTI report. Activists also put up a banner demanding the same name near the structure.
Separately, BJP MLA Parag Shah wrote to civic authorities proposing that the bridge be named after Captain Smit Machchhar. Media reports and international wire copy credited the pilot for his conduct in averting a major accident on a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.
Ganesh Khankar, leader of the house in the BMC, said Shiv Sena (UBT) had created a controversy to claim political credit but acknowledged Patekar’s contribution to cinema. He suggested a theatre complex would be a more fitting tribute than a bridge, the PTI report added.
The disagreement has political overtones: BMC leader Ganesh Khankar accused Shiv Sena (UBT) of engineering the naming row to grab limelight and civic credit. While Khankar accepted Nana Patekar’s stature in Indian cinema, he told reporters that a theatre or cultural complex might be a more suitable memorial for the actor than naming a transport structure after him, according to PTI.
Bridge specifications and local impact
The BMC describes the new structure as a 650-metre, two-lane link across Vidyavihar, connecting Ramchandra Chemburkar Marg on the eastern side of Vidyavihar railway station with Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg on the western side in Ghatkopar. The bridge includes a 100-metre span over railway tracks, with approach roads measuring 220 metres on the eastern side and 330 metres on the western side, and provides connections to station footpaths and rebuilt ticket booking offices and station master facilities.
| Feature | Length |
|---|---|
| Total bridge length | 650 metres |
| Railway span | 100 metres |
| Eastern approach | 220 metres |
| Western approach | 330 metres |
What residents and commuters should note
The bridge is already a tangible addition to local connectivity, linking Vidyavihar’s east and west precincts and easing access to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg and adjacent suburbs. For daily commuters and station users, the structure’s pedestrian links and rebuilt ticketing facilities are of immediate relevance. The naming debate, however, has shifted public attention from these functional benefits to political symbolism.
- Shiv Sena (UBT) seeks to name the bridge after Nana Patekar, submitting a letter to the mayor and displaying banners.
- BJP MLA Parag Shah urged authorities to name the bridge after Captain Smit Machchhar, the flydubai pilot lauded internationally.
- BMC leader Ganesh Khankar criticised the move by Shiv Sena (UBT) as a political stunt and recommended a theatre for a film-industry tribute.
At present there is no formal decision recorded publicly by the BMC on the final name. The matter is expected to proceed through civic protocols for naming public assets, which typically include consideration by municipal committees and approval by relevant authorities. Local commuters and resident groups in Vidyavihar and Ghatkopar have not been widely quoted in reports so far.
The episode underscores how infrastructure projects in Mumbai, beyond their transport utility, often become stages for political recognition and public symbolism. As the BMC prepares to operationalise the bridge for regular use, the naming question remains unresolved and likely to resurface in council discussions and media coverage.
Reporting here is based on PTI and international wire dispatches carried by Indian media outlets.
