Mumbai: The Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge connecting east-west in Andheri is likely to be shut for motorists from Monday. A consultancy firm hired by the BMC has declared the bridge unsafe after a recent inspection.
Meanwhile the BMC has requested traffic police to work out an alternative route which motorists can take.
Heavily distressed and lost its strength
According to the inspection report submitted by M/s SCG consultancy, various bridge elements like RCC columns, tie beams, girders, deck slab and bearings are heavily distressed and lost its strength due to corrosion and environmental degradation. The consultant recommended to close the unsafe bridge for vehicular traffic. Ameet Satam, MLA from Andheri along with civic officials and consultant visited the bridge on Tuesday.
On the same day, Bridge department of the BMC wrote to the Joint commissioner of police (Traffic) to the close the bridge for vehicular movement as it was found unsafe during inspection.
"The work of demolition and reconstruction of existing Gokhale Bridge at Andheri (BMC Portion) is in progress. At present half portion of the bridge towards north side is demolished and construction of the same is in progress (Phase-I). The remaining part that is Phase- II portion is kept open for Light Motor Vehicle," officials have said in the letter.
Alternative route for motorist to be worked out soon: Traffic police sources
Additional municipal commissioner (projects), P Velarasu, said the design for the portion of bridge work under the Railway has been submitted and the in-principal drawings are approved by the Railways. These designs will be validated with IIT and a tender will be floated soon. While the sources from the traffic police said that an alternative route for motorist will be worked out soon, the bridge maybe closed from next Monday onwards. Rajvardhan Singh, Joint CP (Traffic) said, "the bridge could be shut from Monday onwards. It will be announced in a day or two.
Captain Vinayak Gore flyover or the Amboli subway are the alternate roads that motorists can take. But with two lanes, the Gore flyover has an excessive load, while the subway is closed most of the time during the monsoons. It will create major traffic jams in Andheri. Pointing out at the inconvenience, Ajit Dighe, founder of Amhi Andherikar said, "the bridge should not be closed before providing a better alternate route and the work should also be completed in time." It will take two years to complete the construction of Gokhale bridge, said the civic sources.
"The work that was supposed to commence in March 2020, commenced in November 2021. Railways told BMC in July 2021 to carry out work in the railway portion. Why did the BMC sit on the project? BMC was busy in 'Vazegiri' during covid due to which CAG audit happened now. Corrupt, callous corporation!," tweeted Amit Satam on Thursday.
A portion of Gokhale bridge that was constructed in 1975, collapsed in July 2018 killing two people. Reconstruction of the rail overbridge aims to smoothen vehicular traffic between Western Express Highway (WEH) and Andheri (West) and Juhu area.
