A portion of the new Gokhale bridge with two lanes could be ready before the next monsoon, BMC officials have said after paying IIT-Bombay its fee to vet the drawings of the proposed overpass. Earlier, BMC had drawn criticism for failing to pay IIT-B in time and delaying the work. With the  key east-west connector in Andheri shut, motorists are having a harrowing time. The BMC is still undecided over who will demolish the old bridge, which runs over the railway tracks.

The IIT-B had demanded in advance its entire fee of R19.2 lakh to look at the new bridge’s drawings. While the BMC’s bridge department started the paperwork in September, it completed the process only on Monday. “IIT-B will give their recommendations within 15 days. We will be in touch with them to understand if they suggest any changes in the drawings. There is little chance of any changes in the plans. So we expect to start the tender process by next week,” said a civic official.