Gokhale Bridge will be partially opened by October-end, says CM Eknath Shinde

Andheri legislator Ameet Satam said the entire bridge can be made operational only by May 2024, sparking worries among residents of the area.

BMC will try to open both sides of the bridge by the end of December. (Express photo)

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who inspected the ongoing construction works of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Mumbai on Friday, said it will be opened partially by October-end.

The Gokhale Bridge was shut for pedestrians and vehicular movement last November, owing to its poor structural health. Following which, dismantling works were taken up by the railways since the bridge was built over railway tracks.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had floated a tender to reconstruct the bridge last December and initially, it had aimed to open one arm of the bridge by the end of May. However, owing to a shortage of steel supply from the Jindal and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) plants, the deadline had to be pushed back.

Also read | Gokhale bridge: Two lanes to be opened within six months of commencement of repair work, say officials

Shinde said, “I reviewed the situation and spoke to the DRM of Western Railways. I will monitor the steel supply as well and assure that vehicular movement on the bridge will be started by October-end this year.”

Andheri legislator Ameet Satam, however, maintained that while one arm of this bridge will be opened by the end of October, the entire bridge can be made operational only by May 2024.

“Total requirement of steel for the railway portion is around 2,600 MT out of which 750 MT has been received till date and an additional 1,200 MT will be received by the end of this month. Fabrication work will start after the rest of the steel is received by July. It is only after this that the work to complete one arm of the bridge will be done by October-end. The work to open the second lane will be started in November and will be completed by May 2024,” said Satam.

Meanwhile, civic officials said the BMC will try to open both sides of the bridge by the end of December.

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On the troubles faced by the people, Dhaval Shah of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association said, “Postponement of the opening of the second lane of the bridge to May 2024 is disheartening and a cause of worry as this will result in more hardships for the residents who hoped for a revised deadline of year-end.”

Pratip Acharya

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

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