Reported by Mumbai Mirror
A political tussle has erupted over the naming of the Vidyavihar railway overbridge, with the BJP pushing to honour Captain Smit Machchhar, a Mumbai-born commercial pilot who earned international recognition for his heroism in 2026. The Shiv Sena (UBT), meanwhile, has proposed naming the bridge after veteran actor Nana Patekar.
The competing demands have drawn attention to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) longstanding practice of rarely naming public infrastructure after living individuals. Both parties have submitted letters to Mayor Ritu Tawde, seeking approval for their respective proposals.
The naming row comes as several infrastructure projects, including the Dindoshi and Sion bridges, await formal inauguration.
Parag Shah, BJP MLA from Ghatkopar East, has demanded that the bridge be named after Captain Machchhar, whose family lives in the constituency. The proposal draws on the pilot’s connection to the neighbourhood, where he spent his childhood.
Kishor Machchhar, Smit’s uncle, said naming the bridge after the pilot would be a matter of immense pride for the family.
