BMC chief writes to SAIL, Jindal; urges them to supply steel required for reconstruction
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Following the delay in reopening of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has written to the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, urging them to send the required steel for reconstruction of the new bridge at the earliest. The letter is dated on April 19.
BMC, earlier this week, had announced the delay in reopening the bridge. While the civic body had earlier stated that one arm of this bridge would be reopened by May this year, officials said the new deadline states that the bridge would be open only by mid November.
Civic officials said that a strike in one of the SAIL plants has resulted in a delay in acquiring the steel leading to a delay in starting work early.
\In the letter, Chahal has mentioned that the order for 500 metric tonnes (Mt) of steel was placed by the BMC-appointed contractor on April 5 at the Jindal Plant, while an order for 1,188 MT of structural steel was placed by the contractor on March 20, 2023. “This project is being carried out by M/S AB Infrabuild Ltd, which has given the work order for procurement and fabrication of Fabrication of Open Web Girder (OWG) to HMM Infrabuild Ltd on February 8, 2023,” Chahal’s letter stated.
Civic sources said HMM Infrabuild—an Ambala based firm— will construct the pre-fabricated girders of the bridge in a workshop, and bring it to the site for assembling and launching.
“Gokhale Bridge is an important link near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Andheri Railway station. All three railway lines (Central, Western and Harbour) intersect at Andheri and this bridge is a vital link to east-west connectivity. Reconstructing this bridge is important and the guardian minister, the MP and MLA have convened several meetings over finishing this project by June 2023. The supply for required material is needed in top priority and in view of the above you are requested to supply the materials at earliest,” said the letter.
“The order for the maximum quantum of steel were placed with SAIL but we haven’t received any quantity owing to their issues. As a result we had also written to the Jindal Plant since quantum of this order was lesser, and this order was only placed in April, 2023, so that they send the material at the earliest, so work can begin quickly,” said a civic official.
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The official said that Jindal officials have said production can begin obly by early next week due to ongoing issues at their plant. Meanwhile, as a remedial measure in the monsoon, the civic body is set to install additional de-watering pumps in Andheri to ensure traffic flow is not affected during monsoon in the absence of an operational Gokhale Bridge.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
