Gokhale Bridge News: Delay Puts Traffic Relief At Risk; Will It Be Ready By Next Monsoon?

The completion of the southern arm of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri is facing significant delays due to slow progress in lowering the second girder, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. Initially scheduled to be lowered by November 14, only 1.25 metres of the required 7.5 metres have been completed. This has raised concerns about meeting the revised deadline of April 2025.

The 86-metre girder began its positioning in September 2024, but the delay in its lowering has held up subsequent work, including the construction of approach roads, pedestrian pathways, and boundary walls. A civic official reassured that while delays continue, the BMC is working to expedite the remaining tasks.

Dhaval Shah, director of the Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen's Association, expressed worry about the tight timeline in HT report. "With only five months before the monsoon, it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the project will be finished before May 2025," he said.

The installation of the 1,300-metric-ton girder is being handled by M/s Rights Limited in partnership with Western Railway. This process is technically complex and requires advanced cranes to position the girder in a restricted area. Once the girder is fully aligned, additional tasks like asphalting, lighting installation, and road markings will follow.

The bridge, which was partially reopened in February 2024, plays a vital role in easing traffic congestion between Andheri East and West. Despite the ongoing delays, the BMC insists that the bridge will be completed by April 30, 2025. However, internal sources suggest that it may be delayed until May 2025.