Mumbai’s bustling Andheri suburb faces yet another delay in the construction of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge, a vital link connecting east and west Andheri. Originally expected to be ready by November 2024, the bridge project, overseen by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has now been extended until April 30, 2025. The delay has sparked frustration among Andheri’s residents, who have been enduring congestion and restricted travel options since the bridge was declared unsafe and shut down in November 2022.
The bridge’s redevelopment has been particularly challenging due to limited workspace at the construction site, impacting the ability to position essential equipment like cranes. Civic officials stated that the contractor, who has been penalised for the recent setbacks, was tasked with ensuring a risk-assessed timeline. However, unforeseen delays, especially in positioning and lowering the massive steel girders, have compounded the delays. The first steel girder, a massive structure spanning 13.5 metres in width, 90 metres in length, and weighing approximately 1,300 metric tonnes, was successfully assembled and shifted in September. Although a significant milestone, the process did not go as swiftly as planned, due to complex logistical and spatial challenges.
The girder is set to be lowered to a height of 7.5 metres, with additional tasks like the installation of crash barriers, asphalting, access road development, and road marking yet to be completed. The railway portion of the bridge is still pending, with a civic official confirming it’s currently lagging by 10-15 days. Residents from the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, expressed frustration over these delays. He revealed that, while some work on the bridge is scheduled to resume imminently, completion of the railway portion remains behind schedule, affecting the bridge’s overall progress. “Every delay prolongs the daily struggle of residents and adds to the traffic congestion in this busy area,” he added, underscoring the impact on local communities.
Andheri’s residents have been waiting for nearly a year since the bridge’s partial reopening in February 2024. This initial opening, although limited to just two lanes, brought some relief, but the remaining work is essential for full functionality. A comparison to other infrastructure projects in Mumbai reveals that the Gokhale Bridge has faced one of the more prolonged development timelines. Other bridges with similar challenges have moved forward more swiftly, putting additional pressure on the BMC to meet this new April deadline. With commuters and local businesses bearing the brunt of this delay, the bridge’s timely completion is critical for restoring normalcy and easing the traffic load in Andheri. As the April 2025 target date approaches, residents hope the BMC will prioritise this project to minimise further disruptions, ensuring this critical link can finally resume its role in the city’s transport network.
