A day after postponing the deadline for the reopening of Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge in Andheri, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started taking steps to control traffic congestion in the suburb in the upcoming monsoon. The Gokhale bridge is a major link that connects Andheri east and west in the western suburbs. This bridge was shut down for vehicular and pedestrian movement in November 2022, causing inconvenience to motorists as well residents. Now, in the absence of Gokhale Bridge, there are two alternate routes available for motorists, one is the Captain Vinayak Gore flyover, which connects Andheri and Vile Parle, and the other is Andheri subway. Considering its close proximity to the railway station, motorists prefer the subway rather than the Vinayak Gore flyover. However, this subway is infamous for water-logging and during monsoon every year, it is kept shut for vehicular movement. Senior officials from the BMC’s storm-water department said that this year they will set up six dewatering pumps near the subway to ensure there is no traffic blockage during heavy rain. “Every year, we install two dewatering pumps inside the subway. This year, six more pumps will be set up in some of the low-lying areas that are in close proximity to the subway. We have located three such low-lying places where high volume of water accumulates during rains and flows towards the subway and in each of these spots, two pumps will be installed,” said an official. The official said the BMC has already issued a tender for installing the pumps and the civic body intends to make all the six pumps operational ahead of monsoon this year. Earlier, the BMC had proposed setting up a mini pumping station in Andheri subway. “But setting up a pumping station will require excavating and making a sump pit. This process is going to be time consuming. For a quick remedial solution, we have opted for installation of the pumps.,” added the official. Local residents, meanwhile, raised concern about flooding woes when it is high tide during monsoon since Mogra nullah is the only available drainage network in this area. “Flushing out water to the Mogra nullah by adding dewatering pumps can be a solution but what will happen during high tide. whenever there is high tide during monsoon, the nullah overflows, leading to slow water flow,” said Dhaval Shah, local resident and member of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Andheri (west) MLA Ameet Satam also wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, seeking his intervention in the issue. “The portion of the bridge falling under BMC’s jurisdiction should have been completed by now as per earlier timelines. It is pertinent to note that the steel delivery has nothing to do with the completion of the bridge in BMC’s portion. this fact itself shows that there is a gap somewhere. The BMC doesn’t seem to be serious and committed about this situation, and it seems to be functioning like how it functioned for the last 25 years and ruined the city,” stated Satam’s letter.
