Thaindian News

Mumbai, Dec 7 (IANS) Against the backdrop of the controversy over the Pedder Road flyover, Urban Development Minister Sachin Aher Wednesday said the flyover was “necessary” and must be allowed to come up for the benefit of city’s residents.

Speaking to media persons here, Aher, hailing from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a partner in the Congress-led alliance, said that all angles, including the opinions of the local people, must be taken into account.

“We must also ensure that it does not affect any provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), but if required, we can suggest changes in the CRZ,” he said.

Replying to a question, Aher said that as far as he was aware, eminent singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle had never directly opposed the Pedder Road flyover.

“However, they (Lata and Asha) had expressed certain reservations over it several years ago,” Aher said. He declined to comment on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s attack on the two famous singer-sisters.

The long-delayed Pedder Road flyover came into focus after the state government announced plans to cancel it recently, and compensate with two other flyovers - one at Haji Ali junction and the other at Cadbury Company junction, barely two km from the proposed Pedder Road flyover.

Taking umbrage at this, Raj Thackeray attacked the Mangeshkar sisters, accusing them of stalling the much-needed flyover, and threatened that unless the Pedder Road flyover was constructed, the MNS would oppose construction of any other flyovers in Mumbai or rest of the state.

Earlier Wednesday, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray also joined the issue and decried - without naming MNS or his estranged cousin Raj - attempts to malign the image of internationally respected idols like Lata, Asha or Sachin Tendulkar.