Mumbai: Finally! Andheri's Gokhale bridge reopens this evening

Andheri’s Gokhale Bridge is now ready. Pic/Satej Shinde

The Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge at Andheri, which collapsed in July 2018, resulting in two deaths and three injuries, will fully open for traffic today.

The bridge has been shut since November 2022 and partially operational since February 26, 2024. From Sunday evening after the inauguration, traffic of light motor vehicles will only be allowed initially and the movement of heavy vehicles will start at a later date after removal of height barricades.

Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar will inaugurate the second phase of the bridge on Sunday evening.

Gokhale Bridge awaits its opening, as finishing touches are put by workers and by artists from the NGO Project Mumbai. Pics/Satej Shinde

Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar confirmed the update with mid-day. "The bridge will open from Sunday. For heavy vehicles movement we need to discuss with the traffic police, as there is a need to remove height barriers," Bangar said.

Although the bridge will fully open on Sunday, the road along with the bridge which connects the station road on the East side is still under construction. An official said, "One side of the road toward the station will open this week, but other side of the road towards Telli Gully will take time to complete."

Artwork to create awareness

The BMC gave permission to the NGO Project Mumbai to paint the walls of the bridge. The theme is Mumbai, as well as awareness about traffic regulation like using car seatbelts, wearing helmet while riding two-wheelers, and no drinking and driving.

When mid-day went to the site we found that the wall painting was undergoing. The artists said that the work would be completed by inauguration.

Slow construction and delays

According to the plan, the work of the bridge was first supposed to be completed in 2023. But due to the change in design, strike in steel plant, heavy rain in Haryana where girder fabrication plant is located, the work was delayed. The first phase of the project opened in February 2024. The second phase was to open by April 2025.

Mismatch in alignment

Even after completing the first phase, the woes of the bridge did not end - there was a height difference of around 6ft between the old C D Barfiwala connector and new Gokhale bridge.

In figures

The cost of the project is around R 160 crore total. The length of the bridge is 510 metres. The length of the railway is 90 metres. The weight of the 90-metre girder is 1300 metric tonnes.

Mahua Dutta, Parag Motani and Dhaval Shah

New bottleneck

The work on the JVPD flyover is beginning, and there are barricades at the start of the Barfiwala connector on Juhu Galli in Andheri West. This is creating a bottleneck.

What they say

Dhaval Shah, founder of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen forum, said, "Gokhale bridge is testament of public and BMC partnership with hundreds joining together to ensure the critical infrastructure gets completed in time and good quality which will last long, several recommendations like cat eyes, direction boards, reflective tapes accepted and numerous joint meetings which brought transparency and confidence amongst residents."

Shah added, "Although work was delayed due to the various reason, now motorists will get relief in the monsoon."

Another resident of Andheri East said, "As the part of the bridge opened we got relife, but during peak hours the bottleneck was created at the exit of the bridge. After the opening of the full bridge traffic congestion at the exit of the bridge at the West side will reduce."

Residents want BEST routes

Four routes of BEST buses will be diverted in 2022 as the bridge shuts down for traffic. Even after the opening of the first phase of the bridge in 2024 the BEST route did not restored as the heavy vehicles from the bridge are restricted. As the full bridge is opening, residents of Andheri demanding BEST should immediately start bus service from the bridge.

"Restarting the buses will help people save from their overstretched monthly budget and valuable time in daily commute to work", said Parag Motani, resident of Versova. "Currently many had no option for travel due to absence of Public transport now it will help many like me to explore Best bus and save time and money, said Abhijeet Sonone, resident of Andheri.

"Scores of students who study in west side colleges and school along with office goers will benefit from reopening of bus routes," said Mahua Dutta, resident of Andheri West.