• Source:JND
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Mumbai News: Residents of Andheri East are eagerly anticipating the full opening of the Gokhale Bridge, a crucial east-west connector for the city. Scheduled for completion by May 15, the second phase of construction is progressing smoothly, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials.

A Hindustan Times report cited Minoo Sukhia, a local resident who recently walked on the newly reconstructed section and expressed optimism about its timely completion. The bridge has been a focal point for citizens' groups, including the Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) and the Mumbai North Central Division Forum (MNCDF), who, alongside MLA Ameet Satam, have been closely monitoring the construction. The first arm of the bridge was opened to traffic just over a year ago."

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Gokhale Bridge Footpath Collapse During Heavy Rain In 2018

The need for this reconstruction arose from an incident in July 2018, when a footpath on the bridge collapsed during heavy rainfall, resulting in two fatalities. Dhaval Shah, co-founder of LOCA, explained that the collapsed section was a floating cantilever that had been poorly maintained. An investigation revealed that corroded steel and additional weight from utilities contributed to the bridge's deteriorating condition. Despite its risks, both the BMC and Western Railway continued to operate the bridge, a decision later scrutinised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Tendering for the reconstruction began in 2019, with M/s SMS Infrastructure Ltd awarded the contract for Rs 103.38 crore. However, actual demolition did not start until 2020. The collapse of the Morbi bridge in Gujarat in October 2022 prompted renewed attention to Gokhale Bridge, leading to its closure in November and complete demolition shortly thereafter. The BMC faced numerous challenges, including strikes in the steel industry and flooding at a fabrication factory.

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Barfiwala Flyover Misalignment

The BMC faced significant criticism when the first arm of the new bridge opened in February 2024 with a 2.8-metre misalignment with the Barfiwala flyover. This error was attributed to missing design drawings and changes in height requirements. To rectify the situation, the BMC enlisted the help of VJTI and IIT-Bombay to lift the flyover, incurring an additional cost of Rs 7 crore.

However, the second arm of the bridge is expected to open without further issues, although it is six months behind schedule. An official stated that four spans on the approach road still need to be completed, with curing taking an additional 20 days. Concerns remain regarding the narrow footpaths and ongoing work on the Juhu Circle flyover, but BMC officials assure that there will be enough space for safe passage once materials are cleared from the site.