Gokhale Bridge Reopening Delayed to May
Mumbai’s commuters will have to brace for continued disruptions as the much-anticipated reopening of Andheri’s Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge has been pushed back to May, missing its earlier April deadline. This key east-west connector, which has been closed since November 2022 after being declared structurally unsafe, has faced a series of delays, compounding the frustration of daily travellers navigating Mumbai’s already congested transport network.
Local MLA Ameet Satam, accompanied by civic officials and contractors, conducted a site inspection on Friday to assess the construction progress. While substantial structural milestones have been achieved—most notably the successful lowering of the second girder on 26 December, following the southern girder’s installation in September—the project remains far from completion. Current efforts are concentrated on constructing the approach road and erecting key support pillars. Initially slated for completion in November 2023, the project missed its deadline, with subsequent delays affecting even the railway section, which was supposed to be operational by 31 December. On the eastern front, all four foundations and piers are complete, with one girder in place. Meanwhile, the western side has seen the completion of five foundations and piers, with two out of three girders installed.
Civic authorities have assured that the project is being prioritised to meet the revised May deadline, although past assurances have done little to inspire public confidence. Financial repercussions loom for the contractors responsible. A senior civic official confirmed that a ₹3 crore penalty was initially imposed for failing to meet the 15 November deadline. With continued delays, this penalty is being recalculated, and further fines are anticipated, reflecting the additional days of non-compliance with contractual obligations. The Gokhale Bridge had been earmarked for partial reopening in May 2023, following the first girder’s launch. However, this target was missed by ten months, with only a partial section becoming operational in February 2024. Now, as Mumbai’s infrastructure grapples with mounting commuter demands, authorities hope to avoid further setbacks.
For thousands of residents who rely on this arterial link daily, the delays have not only disrupted commutes but also strained Mumbai’s broader traffic ecosystem. As the May deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the BMC and project contractors to deliver—without excu
