MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday directed the State to inform of measures that Matunga police station will take to meet the threat to the safety and security of girl students on account of the use of the railway foot-over bridge (FoB) connecting the east and west sides of King Circle. “The security and safety of all the students, and that of girl students particularly in the area, require special measures to be taken..
., " said Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. They also directed that before the affidavit is filed, it “shall be personally vetted by the police commissioner.
” The petition was filed by Gujarati Kelavani Mandal and Seva Mandal Education Society, which run a school and college for girls on R A Kidwai Road, Matunga (E) abutting the railway track. They challenged the construction of the FoB on the plot used as the Central Railway traction substation saying they face thefts and other harassment from anti-social elements and drug addicts, the FoB shall exacerbate the problem. “ The petitioner states that construction of this over bridge can cause safety and security problems to thousands of the girls studying in two educational institutions.
The area in the east from where people will cross over to the west is considered to be notorious for anti-social activities including theft, drug peddling and other forms of harassment. The petitioners further states that there is no reason to have this overbridge since it is away from both.