Gokhale bridge will have to be rebuilt: BMC

The Gokhale Bridge at Andheri station, a part of which collapsed last month, will have to be pulled down and rebuilt, according to a BMC audit report.

The July 3 incident, which led to a Mumbai-wide inspection of all the bridges in the city, had killed two people.

According to civic officials, the Andheri bridge is beyond repairs and has to be demolished.

"After careful inspection, it was decided that the bridge will have to be shut and rebuilt. The process will take at least a year, to begin with. A presentation on reconstruction of the bridge will be made before the Municipal Commissioner soon," said an official of the Bridges department.

Civic chief Ajoy Mehta approved the reconstruction plan after the accident forced an audit of over 445 bridges across the city.

The audit report said paver blocks and utility cables put extra pressure on the bridge, causing it to collapse. The civic body has already begun removing the paver blocks to reduce the weight on the bridge. Apparently, girders of the bridge are dull and need strengthening. The official added, “This cannot be done without keeping the bridge shut. So, like the Lower Parel bridge, this one too will be dismantled and rebuilt." Ironically, a proposal to repair Gokhale Bridge was stuck with the civic body for over two years as no tenders were floated. Even then, the BMC had stated that the girders need strengthening.

City transport experts have cautioned against excessive traffic if the bridge is demolished for reconstruction. "Andheri is a commercial area and has tremendous vehicular movement. This is an important bridge and should not be completely closed, as it will only add to the existing congestion," said Ashok Datar, city transport expert.

The bridge, which was constructed in 1950, is a crucial eastwest connector in Andheri.