The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated the critical phase of girder assembly for the south side of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the bridge’s redevelopment project, with completion anticipated by August 23, 2024.
The steel girders, essential for the bridge’s southern arm, arrived in Mumbai from the Ambala factory during the first week of August. The contractor responsible for the assembly has committed to completing this phase within the next two weeks. “The girder installation is slated to take approximately 60 days. Following this, we will commence work on the approach road, which is projected to be completed within five to six months,” stated a senior official from the BMC.
Upon completion of the girder assembly, the BMC plans to proceed with surfacing and concreting work, with a deadline set for November 14, 2024. The civic authorities have been stringent in enforcing timelines, evidenced by the issuance of show-cause notices to both the executive engineer and the contractor for missing the contractor’s self-imposed material delivery deadline of July 15. Additionally, a penalty of INR 3 crore has been levied on the contractor due to delays in the girder launch and related construction activities.
The Gokhale Bridge, a vital east-west connector in Andheri, was closed for traffic following a structural audit that deemed it unsafe. While the northern arm of the bridge reopened on February 26, 2024, following partial alignment work, the southern arm remains under reconstruction. Similarly, the northern arm of the Barfiwala Flyover was reopened on July 4, 2024, with work on the southern portion expected to commence shortly.
The BMC’s current focus is to ensure that the southern arm of the Gokhale Bridge is fully operational by March 31, 2025. This development is crucial for alleviating traffic congestion and restoring connectivity in the Andheri region, which has been significantly impacted by the ongoing construction and closure of key infrastructure.
