The Carnac Bunder bridge near Crawford Market, which is expected to be opened by the end of the year. Pic/Shadab Khan
According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, some bridges have been delayed due to several reasons and unforeseen circumstances. For example, at Nahur, many utility lines, including MTNL cables and gas pipelines, had to be shifted while land is yet to be acquired at the Vidyavihar bridge site
CARNAC BUNDER BRIDGE: The BMC and the Railways launched the first girder of the bridge across railway lines in October 2024. Preparations are now on to launch the second girder. However, work on approaches is yet to be completed. The bridge is expected to open by the end of this year. Site visit: There was debris on either side of the bridge and preparations for launching the second girder were in process. It will still take time even for one lane to open
VIDYAVIHAR BRIDGE: The BMC has been constructing an east-west road overbridge at Vidyavihar station, which promises to boost local connectivity for vehicles between the Eastern Express Highway, Ghatkopar Mahul Road and the arterial LBS Road. The total length of the bridge is about 480 metres. According to the records, this connectivity was marked in the 1991 development plan of the BMC
VIDYAVIHAR BRIDGE: The civic body prepared a plan for the bridge in 2016 and the construction work started in 2018. The placing of two 99.34-m steel girders across ten railway lines was completed two years ago. While the first up lane girder was placed in May 2023, the second was placed in November 2023. Work on the approaches of either side is still in progress as there have been land acquisition issues
NAHUR BRIDGE: This road overbridge, which originally had four lanes, will get two new ones on either side, as per the plans. Girders over railway lines were laid in January 2023, but work on the approaches has been going on for two years. Officials said several utilities needed to be shifted. Work related to the approaches is now in the final stage and should be completed in a few weeks
VIKHROLI BRIDGE: Land acquisition issues and rehabilitation of project-affected people have delayed this project immensely. With the shutting down of a level crossing gate in 2011, Vikhroli residents lost east-west connectivity, necessitating the building of a bridge. In April 2024, girders over railway lines were placed, but work on approaches is still ongoing and will take a few more months to complete
CHARNI ROAD FOOT OVERBRIDGE: A bridge at Charni Road lacks a landing on the main road. BMC officials said they had appointed a contractor for general drawing. “There is a landing on railway premises. We have requested WR to construct a staircase and we will pay the cost of the work,” an official said. A senior divisional official said, “A staircase was situated on BMC land
CHARNI ROAD FOOT OVERBRIDGE: As it was dismantled by the civic body, it has to be rebuilt by the BMC only and there is no communication on record of it asking Railways to do it. No permission is required for rebuilding the staircase.” A joint survey was done last year wherein the BMC had requested Railways to build the staircase following which the latter asked the former to send a proposal. “No such proposal has been received,” a WR official said
DIVA BRIDGE: Work on the approaches of the Diva road overbridge has also been delayed by several years. The girders over railway lines for the bridge were placed as early as May 2023. However, there are problems constructing the approach road, especially on the west side as there are a number of buildings. The plan is to replace the level crossing, spanning all eight lines, at Diva station with a road over bridge. The crossing as of today remains one of the busiest pedestrian-heavy level crossing gates and opens about 35 times a day on an average
GOKHALE BRIDGE: While the first girders over railway lines were launched in December 2023 and one lane each opened in January and September 2024, work on approaches to the second lane is still in progress and is expected to be completed before the monsoon sets in. There have been multiple deadlines since November 2022, when the bridge was closed and demolished. Once the work on the second lane approach is completed, the project will finally be finished
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