Mumbai’s long-awaited Gokhale Bridge in Andheri has finally reopened in full, marking the end of a complex, multi-year reconstruction effort that underscores both the challenges and necessity of modernising urban infrastructure in India’s financial capital.
Spanning the critical east-west connector over the suburban railway line in Andheri, the bridge had been partially shut since 2017 due to structural concerns, with a complete closure enforced in 2022. On 11 May 2025, city authorities threw open the newly built southern arm of the bridge to traffic—restoring full functionality after nearly seven years of disruption. The reopening brings significant relief to lakhs of commuters and residents who have endured prolonged detours, traffic snarls, and longer commute times. For years, the absence of the Gokhale Bridge created a bottleneck in one of Mumbai’s busiest suburbs, fracturing a key link between Andheri East and West, and shifting traffic burden to already strained alternate routes like the Milan and Andheri subway underpasses.
The prolonged reconstruction project became emblematic of Mumbai’s struggle to upgrade its colonial-era infrastructure to match the demands of a 21st-century megacity. Originally built decades ago, the old Gokhale Bridge was not equipped to handle the increasing volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Structural audits flagged it as unsafe, leading to its phased demolition. However, what was initially projected as a relatively quick replacement became a prolonged saga of delays. One of the most notable setbacks came from a design mismatch: a 1.5-metre misalignment between the new Gokhale Bridge and the adjoining CD Barfiwala flyover. This oversight, which surfaced after major construction had already been completed, required additional redesign and realignment work—further extending the project timeline.
Civic engineers cite a range of contributing factors for the delay, including the need for railway permissions, relocation of underground utilities, pandemic-induced disruptions, and the inherent difficulty of executing large-scale construction in densely built urban zones. Despite these challenges, the bridge’s final delivery represents a step forward in Mumbai’s efforts to build safer, more durable, and capacity-ready transport infrastructure. The new bridge comes with updated engineering standards, including enhanced load-bearing capacity and compliance with seismic safety norms. Its design also aims to withstand Mumbai’s increasingly unpredictable weather, with integrated features for rainwater drainage and flood mitigation. These upgrades are crucial in a city that is increasingly vulnerable to extreme climate events and monsoon-related flooding.
Urban mobility experts have welcomed the reopening but stress the need for a more holistic vision. While the bridge addresses pressing vehicular needs, its lack of dedicated pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is seen as a missed opportunity in a city that desperately needs to promote sustainable, non-motorised transport modes. As the city moves toward climate resilience and reduced carbon emissions, future infrastructure must embed inclusive mobility by default. From a socio-economic standpoint, the reopening of the Gokhale Bridge also signals recovery for Andheri’s business ecosystem, which had suffered due to reduced footfall and disrupted logistics. Local traders, transport operators, and residents had long demanded expedited work, as the bridge’s closure disrupted daily life, eroded productivity, and impacted commercial activity in the surrounding area.
The Gokhale Bridge is one of several old structures in Mumbai being replaced or upgraded under a broader civic overhaul of the city’s bridges. The Delisle Bridge in Lower Parel reopened in phases after a five-year closure. The Carnac Bridge, a crucial link near the southern business district, was demolished due to safety risks, and its absence continues to impact traffic patterns. Work on the Reay Road Bridge is also underway. These developments reflect a necessary—if belated—transition from legacy infrastructure to future-ready systems. For a city where over 45 lakh registered vehicles compete for limited road space and where public transport serves over 70 lakh daily commuters, resilient bridge infrastructure is not a luxury but a necessity. Yet Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure challenges expose the need for deeper coordination between civic bodies, railways, utility agencies, and urban planners. Delays, design errors, and cost overruns must be systematically addressed through integrated planning, transparent processes, and public accountability.
As Mumbai rebuilds its ageing transport arteries, the Gokhale Bridge stands as both a lesson and a milestone. It illustrates what is possible with sustained political will and civic pressure—but also what remains to be done to ensure that urban growth is matched by infrastructure that is equitable, efficient, and environmentally sound.
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