Mumbai, The reconstructed Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge in Mumbai’s Andheri space grew to become absolutely operational on Sunday, seven years after it was shut for vehicular visitors.
7 years on, Gokhale bridge turns into absolutely operational; to boost east-west connectivity in Andheri
The overpass, popularly generally known as Gokhale bridge, is predicted to boost east-west connectivity within the western suburb, officers mentioned.
Two individuals have been killed and three suffered accidents after a portion of the bridge, which runs over railway tracks, collapsed in 2018, prompting the authorities to shut visitors on it and conduct a security audit of all railway bridges in Mumbai.
The reconstruction mission, which concerned demolishing the outdated construction and constructing a brand new one, started in March 2021 with work on each method roads. Building over the railway tracks commenced in April 2023.
The primary part, permitting motion of sunshine autos from west to east, was opened in February final 12 months.
The mission then bumped into tough waters.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Company was severely criticised after it emerged that the reconstructed bridge close to Andheri station didn’t align with the north arm of the connecting Barfiwala flyover constructed over a decade in the past. It additionally grew to become a topic of intense politics.
The civic physique subsequently engaged specialists to elevate a portion of the flyover to align it with the Gokhale bridge. The north arm of the Barfiwala Flyover was reopened in July 2024, and now, with the completion of the second part, the whole Gokhale Bridge is absolutely operational.
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar, who additionally serves because the guardian minister for the Mumbai Suburban district, inaugurated the bridge at a public perform held on the overpass.
He referred to as the Gokhale bridge a “unique example of engineering” as a result of challenges confronted throughout its development.
As per BMC, the Barfiwala flyover’s north and south arms have been lifted utilizing jacks and aligned with the Gokhale bridge method roads beneath the supervision of technical specialists of Veermata Jijabai Institute of Expertise and IIT Bombay.
BMC mentioned the absolutely operational bridge will considerably enhance the connectivity from the Western Specific Freeway in Andheri East to Swami Vivekanand Street in Andheri West through Teli Gully.
The bridge has a complete size of 511 metres and a width of 27 metres, which incorporates pedestrian pathways on either side and a 3 3 lane vehicular carriageway. The span over the railway tracks measures 90 metres.
Talking on the occasion, BMC’s Further Commissioner Abhijit Bangar mentioned that two extra bridges are anticipated to open inside the subsequent month. The Vikhroli east-west connector will open to visitors by Might 31, adopted by the Carnac Bridge in South Mumbai by June 10, he mentioned.