BMC plan to reconstruct Mithi bridge: After potholes, dug-up roads await citizens

The portion of the Mahim Causeway (circle pointing) that will be redone. File pic

Motorists travelling towards Mahim or Dadar from the northern end of the western suburbs could face more traffic jams in the coming months. As it prepares to focus on roads and bridges with the exit of the monsoon, the BMC plans to reconstruct the overpass on the Mithi river near Mahim Causeway. This means after braving potholes, citizens will now have to brace for dug-up roads.

Officials said they are ready with the tender documents and waiting for permission from the forest department. Till the main job kicks off with the dismantling of the bridge, the civic body plans to start peripheral work. The bridge reconstruction is estimated to cost Rs 89 crore. Civic officials said several road projects were kept pending for almost a year for lack of funds and manpower as management of Covid ate up a lot of resources. Apart from work on 29 roads in the city, BMC's bridge department too has many projects in the pipeline one of which being the reconstruction of the overpass on the Mithi river.

The work on the Mithi will see a busy junction that connects the Western Express Highway to Mahim and further south becoming more chaotic. Sources said the BMC will release the work order after the nod from the forest department which is mandatory considering that it's a river and there are mangroves patches in its vicinity. The corporation will also require the clearance of the traffic department before pulling down the existing structure. "Clearance from the traffic department should not be difficult. The bridge is in a dilapidated condition and thus needs attention."Due to the Colaba-Seepz Metro-3 project, the LJ Road has become narrow, leaving motorists with Senapati Bapat Marg to travel on. But once they touch the junction of Mahim Causeway, it will be a hellish experience after the bridge work starts.

Satish Thosar, chief engineer of bridge department, said, "We will be carrying out the work from the sides first and later from the median so that any given point at least one lane on the south- and north-bound roads is open for traffic. Once the forest permissions are in, we will issue the work orders to the contractor."

Rs 89 cr
Cost of Mahim bridge project

29
No. of road works to be taken up in coming months