Nightmare begins: Gokhale bridge to be shut from today

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shut Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge in Andheri on Sunday midnight after it was declared dangerous, and a plan to demolish the bridge will be prepared in 15 days. The traffic police have suggested six alternative routes for commuters. Once the bridge is shut, the plan for completely razing it will begin in the next 15 days. The removal will have to be done in a planned manner and will involve participation of all the stakeholders," a BMC official said.

Also read: Gokhale bridge mess: Metro to the rescue, but will it be enough?

Alternative routes to consider now that Gokhale bridge is shut. Pic/Sameer Markande

The Mumbai traffic police issued a notification on Friday announcing that the bridge would be closed from Sunday midnight (12:01am). According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Nitin Pawar, the bridge will be closed from both sides for vehicles and pedestrians. He has suggested six alternative routes. The diversion routes suggested by the traffic department include the Khar subway, Milan subway bridge (Santacruz) Captain Vinayak Gore bridge (Vile Parle), Andheri subway, Balasaheb Thackeray bridge (Oshiwara junction) and the Mrinaltai Gore bridge (Goregaon).

Gokhale bridge was partially shut in 2018 after a footpath on it collapsed on a running train killing two people. The BMC had appointed SCG consultancy services to conduct a structural audit of bridges in the city. It submitted a report in October 2022 suggesting immediate closure of the bridge for traffic. "There is corrosion in the girder and pillars. There are some cracks on the bridge. Cracks and corrosion are visible, which shows the bridge is in a dilapidated condition," the report summarised.

2018
Year when part of Gokhale bridge collapsed