“The MMRDA should appeal to the airport authority to raise the height of the girders from existing 3.50 metres to 5.50 metres,” he said. Another resident Umesh Gaikwad said the mentality of authorities to take decisions without consulting citizens has to change. At the end of the discussion, municipal officer Jeevan Rathod informed MMRDA officials collectively about all the demands, while MMRDA officials promised to discuss the issue with senior level officials and to correspond with the Airport Authority to discuss the possibility of raising the height of the Metro 2B girder.

Responding to the complaint, MMRDA in a tweeted statement said, “The maximum height permissible at Halav Bridge is 21.28m (AMSL) as per Airport Authority of India (AAI) standards and the maximum restricted height available above Halav Bridge is 3.5 metres, which is as per Indian Standard code. Halav Bridge is mainly used by small vehicles like autos, cars, small tempos and height restrictions of 3.5 metres will be imposed after the Metro girder is placed on Halav Bridge,” a statement said. “And it is important to note that the U-girders to be erected post Ganpati festival,” it added.