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