2 bridges to open for traffic

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took a special meeting on Wednesday over Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to close 29 bridges across Mumbai as they were in perilous conditions.

Considering the traffic issues the city will face this monsoon because of the closure of crucial bridges, the chief minister has given more power to BMC commissioner for undertaking repairs and reconstruction under the Disaster Management Act.

The BMC will now implement interim measures as suggested by Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) to allow traffic flow on the bridges.

The residents and activists cried foul over traffic congestion the city will experience this monsoon due to the closure of 13 major bridges for traffic which includes two crucial bridges i.e. Ghatkopar’s bridge over Laxmi nullah which connects the BEST depot to Eastern Express Highway and another bridge at Juhu Tara Road near Guzderbandh junction.

BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said, “For the bridges at Ghatkopar and Juhu Tara Road, we will use a special interim solution in consultation with IIT and VJTI. We will use either steel plates or concrete overlay and both can be done in 30 to 45 days. This will allow light traffic to operate on the bridges.”

He further said that the bridges that are already pulled down would be reconstructed soon.  

“At all the 29 dilapidated bridges we are going to try interim measures wherever it is possible,” the municipal commissioner said.

The BMC is taking these measures for curtailing traffic congestion in monsoon.

The re-construction of the 29 dilapidated bridges will be carried out lane wise instead of demolishing the entire bridge, an official said.

After the mishap of Himalaya bridge collapse near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on March 14,
the civic body has ordered re-audit of 296 bridges in the city of which 29 bridges were found to be in dangerous condition and needed reconstruction.