The much-anticipated rehabilitation of Andheri’s Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge is progressing steadily, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) beginning the lowering of the southern side girder. Nearly three months after its launch, the girder lowering has reached 2.05 metres of the required 8.5 metres and is expected to conclude by the end of November 2024.
The railway segment of the bridge, a critical part of this east-west connector, is scheduled for completion by December 31. While several delays have plagued the project, civic authorities remain optimistic about meeting the revised deadline of April 30, 2025, for the bridge’s full operation. The second girder, measuring 86 metres in length, was set into motion in September. Each girder spans 13.5 metres in width and 90 metres in length, weighing an impressive 1,300 metric tons. However, the lowering process, originally expected to conclude by mid-November, faced setbacks due to spatial constraints at the construction site. Limited space for crane operations emerged as a significant challenge, impacting project momentum, according to BMC officials. Once the lowering process concludes, additional tasks such as installing crash barriers, asphalting, constructing access roads, installing streetlights, and road markings will begin.
Though time-consuming, civic officials have assured that work on approach roads, already in progress, will expedite the final phase. The Gokhale Bridge has been a critical lifeline for commuters in Andheri, connecting the eastern and western parts of the suburb. It was declared dilapidated and closed in November 2022, leading to significant disruptions. The project, initially slated to open two lanes by May 2023, experienced a 10-month delay, with the first half of the bridge operational only by February 26, 2024. While the bridge’s completion timeline has been revised multiple times, the BMC reassures that the current efforts will restore this crucial link by April 2025, ensuring smoother travel for thousands of commuters.
