Gokhale Bridge to be made fully operational by Nov, says BMC.

With citizens fuming over the inordinate delay in opening the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, which has remained closed for over six months due to construction work, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the bridge will be partially opened by October and will be made fully functional by November this year.

Gokhale Bridge, a primary east-west link in the western suburbs, was dismantled due its poor structural health. Since the bridge passed over railway lines, the bridge was dismantled part by part in phases between December and March.

Velrasu said fabrication works for the first girder has already started. “By the first week of June, the girder will be brought to Mumbai from the workshop in Ambala by dismantling it into smaller parts due to its superstructure. A number of trucks will be deployed that will make multiple trips between Mumbai and Ambala to bring the parts of the bridge her and the transportation will be complete by June end,” said the additional municipal commissioner.

Between July and August, the smaller parts of the bridge will be put together and starting September, the BMC will prepare to open the first girder of the bridge by October.

“This same sequence of events will be applicable for the second girder. While we plan to open part of the bridge in October, the second girder will be put in place in a month and the bridge will be opened for public use by November,” said Velrasu.

Citizens have called for a sit-in demonstration near the construction site of the bridge on May 14 to protest against the delay in opening the bridge, which once complete, will ease traffic congestion in Andheri. What has infuriated citizens even more is that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has postponed the partial opening of the bridge from May to October, indicating that the Gokhale Bridge will remain shut during the monsoon and is likely to compound the traffic woes faced by pedestrians and daily commuters.

Nearly 100 residents are expected to participate in the sit-in agitation to be held on May 14.

THE INDIAN EXPRESS