Mumbai: Gokhale bridge aligned to CD Barfiwala flyover, traffic likely to open on July 1, says BMC

The work on the bridge underway. Pic/BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday said that one phase of the Andheri Gokhale bridge has been successfully aligned with the CD Barfiwala flyover and it plans to open the route to traffic on July 1.

In a statement, the BMC said that the challenging task of lifting the CD Barfiwala flyover and aligning it parallel to the Gopalkrishna Gokhale flyover was successfully completed. The task was accomplished using hydraulic jacks and MS stool packing.

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According to the BMC's press statement, part of the Barfiwala flyover was raised by 1,397 mm on one side and 650 mm on the other side.

"The micro-level planning and tireless efforts that have been ongoing for the past two months for this connection work have succeeded in this important phase. After the concrete curing work, preparations are being made to start traffic on both these bridges on July 1, 2024," the BMC stated.

The Gokhale bridge in Andheri and CD Barfiwala flyover are vital for transportation in Andheri East and West.

The civic body said that the alignment project was closely monitored by BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagarani. He has been actively involved in ensuring the project stayed on track.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar also played a significant role, ensuring the project met its planned timelines, the BMC statement said.

It said that the alignment involved extensive concreting and stitching necessary for joining both the bridges. The BMC ensured there were no delays or issues during the process.

Earlier, the misalignment of the two crucial bridges had drew widespread criticism by the public.

Experts from IIT and VJTI began work on synchronizing the two flyovers. The BMC intended to finish the project in ninety days so that it could be opened to the public by the end of June or the first week of July, which is when the monsoon season usually begins.

Originally connecting Juhu with the north-south arms of the former Gokhale Bridge, which was dismantled in 2022, was the CD Barfiwala Flyover, constructed in 2008. Because of railroad tracks that ran beneath it and caused it to be out of alignment with the Barfiwala flyover, the renovated Gokhale bridge was found to be six meters taller than the original construction.