Mumbai: BMC confident of opening Delisle bridge by April 2023

A portion of the under-construction Delisle bridge at Lower Parel, on Thursday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The city's most delayed project - the reconstruction of Delisle Bridge in Lower Parel, which is a crucial road link in south Mumbai - will most likely be complete by April 2023, said BMC officials. The work is in the final stages and the Western Railway is expected to hand over the project to the BMC in about 15-20 days once the final girder is installed, railway officials told mid-day. The work of placing the final girder will continue for the next four days. Civic officials said they are confident of opening the bridge before next monsoon if the railways hands over the approach road of N M Joshi Marg by October 1.

Satish Thosar, chief engineer of the BMC's bridges department, said, "We have completed our work on two approaches and are awaiting the railway portion to be completed so that we can start the remaining work. The work on other parts and asphalting on the bridge will be completed simultaneously and the bridge may reopen before the next monsoon."

Railway officials said their work is on track. "The first part of the bridge was completed in June 2022 and the second girder launching will begin tonight. The work will go on for the next four days. When the launch is complete, the eastern side approach of the bridge, which has been retained by Western Railway for the launching of girders, will be handed over to the BMC within 10-15 days for rebuilding of this approach after which temporary girders will be pulled back from approaches and large steel material at site will be removed," Western Railway's chief PRO Sumit Thakur said.

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The work of Delisle bridge is divided into two parts. The part on the railway line is being constructed by Western Railway whereas construction of three approaches - north and south parts of N M Joshi Marg and one arm of Ganpatrao Kadam road. "The solid ramp of G K Road and north part of N M Joshi Marg have been completed. The remaining parts need to launch girders in accordance with the girders on the railways part so it can start only after railway launch girders on tracks. It will take two to three months," said a civic official.

"Currently, the approach road is with Western Railway. They have their set-up and it may clear after the launching of the second girder. Railway assured us that they will hand over the approach within the next two weeks. If they hand over it by October 1, we can complete the construction by April 2023," said a civic official.