Changing city: New bridge coming up at Vidyavihar to be India’s longest bridge passing over railway tracks

The project was conceived back in 2016, and the work orders were issued in 2018. (Express file photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Key features of the bridge

With a total length of 480 metres, this bridge will be India’s longest bridge having an open-web-girder system that will run above railway tracks. Each girder will be 100 metres long and will be made of stainless steel. The weight of each girder is around 1,100 metric tonnes. The bridge will have two carriageways for east-west vehicular movement. Alongside these, the bridge will also have footpaths for pedestrian movement.

Current status

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on May 28 launched the first girder after which the work on the second phase of the bridge has begun. Construction of the approach roads that will pass through the bridge is underway.

Project cost and deadline

The project was conceived back in 2016, and the work orders were issued in 2018. However, the construction work was put on fast-track mode, post the pandemic. At present, the civic body is eyeing a December 2024 deadline for opening the bridge. The cost has been pegged at Rs 178 crore.

Administration speak

“This bridge had initially met with a few hurdles. That is why the project got delayed by a few years. At present, the project is on track and work is on at full pace. This bridge will bring down the traffic woes in the eastern suburbs by a significant level. One of the key features of this ROB is that this is the country’s longest bridge that will pass above the railway tracks,” P Velrasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) told The Indian Express.