CR plans 6-hour block to dismantle Patripul bridge

Mumbai: The railway has decided to undertake dismantling of the century-old Patripul bridge on Sunday. The Patripul connects Kalyan east to Kalyan west for both vehicles and pedestrians crossing the tracks.

“The block for demolition of the Patripul has been planned Sunday tentatively between 9.30am and 3.30 pm on all six lines. The time has been chosen to ensure that there is minimum hardship to commuters,” said Sunil Udasi, CPRO, Central Railway (CR).

The decision will result in cancellation of more than 160 suburban services. In addition to this, around 43 long-distance trains will be affected, resulting in delay and cancellation. The Central Railway (CR) will take a six-hour mega-block during the daytime for dismantling of the bridge. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will construct a new bridge in 12 to 18 months at the same place after getting approval for the bridge design from the railway authority.

A senior CR officer said that a proposal had been sent to the railway board for its approval. During the six-hour block, all six lines from Kalyan to Dombivali will be suspended. “We are expecting to get approval from the railway board by Thursday,” he said.

CR officials said approaches to the bridge had been demolished. Even public utility service cables such as pipelines, optic fibre and MSEB cables had been removed. During the block period, the structures of the bridge above the tracks will be dismantled.