Structural audit suggests immediate demolition citing dilapidated condition; consultant says severe corrosion result of coastal weather
Traffic police will take the final call on shutting Gokhale Road bridge for the public from next week. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Cracks and corrosions are visible, which shows the bridge is in dilapidated condition,” stated the structural audit report of Gokhale Road bridge in Andheri. SCG Consultancy Services, appointed by the BMC to carry out structural audits of city bridges, has suggested immediate demolition of the old part of the bridge. The report was submitted to the civic body in October.
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Consultant S C Gupta said, “We have submitted the report to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The bridge is in a dilapidated condition and needs to be demolished.” “As Mumbai is a coastal city, the speed of iron corrosion is higher here because the air contains chloride. Iron rusts 10 times faster in coastal cities than in normal conditions,” Gupta added.
A part of the bridge’s walkway collapsed in 2018. As per BMC sources, the incident took place due to corrosion and overload. A BMC official said, “The bridge will close for traffic from next week. Traffic police will study traffic patterns and will make the final decision.”
Also Read: Mumbai: Andheri’s Gokhale bridge dilapidated, to be shut soon
New bridge work
The BMC has already started the construction of an approach road for the bridge at a cost of R80 crore. The work is in the final stage. A BMC official, however, added, “This is not final, as we are waiting for the final plan of the bridge.”
Sanjay Kaundanyapure, chief engineer, BMC’s bridges department, said, “The construction of the new bridge will be faster after the demolition of the old one. We are planning to complete the single-lane bridge in the first phase. However, it will be done after the railways approves the plan.”
“A decision on whether to get the current contractor to build the remaining part of the bridge or float new tenders will be taken soon,” he added. Another official said, “If we get approval from the railways and BMC to construct a single lane in the first phase, we will try to finish the work in 12 months. Construction of the full bridge of four lanes will take 24 months.”
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