Mumbai: BMC promises one arm of Gokhale bridge on February 25

The first girder of the crucial east-west connector was launched on the intervening night of December 2 and 3. Pic/Sameer Markande

After setting and missing deadlines several times, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has promised to ensure one arm of Andheri's Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge is opened on February 25.

Civic and railway officials held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue. Residents and activists, meanwhile, are sceptical about the latest deadline as they believed the bridge hasn't been put on girders yet.

The first girder of the crucial east-west connector was launched on the intervening night of December 2 and 3. It was shifted about 13.55 metres to the north from its original location and then lowered by 7.5 metres on January 14.

Residents, however, allege that the work is happening at a snail's pace and the BMC won't be able to finish it before the end of February.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by MLA Ameet Satam, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) P Velrasu, Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Ulhas Mahale and Chief Engineer Vivek Kalyankar, as well as Western Railway officials, the project consultant and technical supervisor of consultant of M/s Wrights Limited, and both the contractors, were present.

Municipal Administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal has told officials that the work of the first phase of the bridge should be completed by the last week of February. But the MLA said that the corporation set February 25 as the deadline. "A meeting was held to review the status of completion of Gokhale bridge. The BMC is making efforts to start the bridge by February 25," said the legislator.

He added that the work should be done quickly and the bridge should be opened for the general public as per the deadline.

The bridge has been closed since November 2022. WR began demolishing the structure in December of that year and took four months to complete the work. The initial deadline for building the bridge was May 2023.

Residents react

Minoo Sukhia, an Andheri West resident, told mid-day, "According to me, the girder is yet to be lowered."

Activist Zoru Bhathena also said that the bridge was yet to be lowered to the municipal bridge level.

Mahale said that the girder was already put in place and the remaining work is being carried out.

Another resident said the girder was supposed to be set in December last year, but the BMC pushed the work till mid-January. "Now construction of the asphalt road, painting and other essential works have to be completed within 40 days if the civic body wants to stick to its deadline," the resident said.

Jan 14
Day lowering of girder was completed