Cost of Vikhroli bridge over rail tracks hiked 100 per cent

The Vikhroli bridge is coming up in place of a level-crossing gate that was closed a decade ago

Three years after work began on a bridge over railway tracks near Vikhroli station, the BMC will now use steel girders for its construction. The change in construction will cost the civic body Rs 88 crore instead of the earlier estimate of Rs 45 crore. While the overpass will improve the east-west connectivity, it is expected to be ready by October, said officials.

After the approval of the standing committee, the work was given to M/S HV Construction on May 2, 2018, with the completion target being October 2020. However, only 35 per cent of the work has been done so far. As per a new proposal sent to the standing committee, the design of the bridge has been changed extensively.

"The part of the bridge over the railway track is being constructed by the railways. The BMC is paying the cost. After the construction of the columns, the railways informed us that they require steel girders instead of PSC [prestressed concrete] for launching the bridge. We have taken feedback from IIT and as per their directions now the girders will be replaced," said Satish Thosar, chief engineer of BMC's Bridges Department.

The initial project cost was Rs 45.77 crore. Due to the high cost of the steel girders, it has been revised to R88.45 crore. The bridge was originally expected to be ready by October 2020, but the host of changes has pushed the deadline by 24 months to October 2022.