Gokhale Bridge, a key east-west connector in Andheri, has faced yet another setback. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had planned to open the second arm of the bridge by the end of this month. However, this plan has been postponed.
The contractor involved in the project will be asked to provide an explanation for the delay. The civic body has also established a fact-finding commission to investigate the misalignment of the Gokhale Bridge and CD Barfiwala flyover.
On February 26, after a 15-month closure, the northern arm of the Gokhale Bridge was reopened. The components of the second girder should have arrived at the Gokhale location in April, but this was postponed.
Only 22 of the 32 steel sections that were supposed to be sent from Ambala to Mumbai have arrived at the location thus far. Hence, the launch, which was originally planned for May, have been rescheduled.
The work won't begin until every component of the bridge is delivered to the location. It has been reported that if the contractor's explanation for the delay is deemed inadequate, appropriate measures will be taken.
According to the BMC's previous plans, both the lanes of the Barfiwala flyover and the complete Gokhale Bridge were expected to be operational by December 2024. The BMC has already started work on the two lanes of the Barfiwala flyover in consultation with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT) and the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI).
The Gokhale Bridge has been closed since November 2022 due to safety concerns. The construction of the new bridge is estimated to cost around INR 90 crore.
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