Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Andheri, May 12: The much-anticipated Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri was formally inaugurated on Sunday by Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s Minister for IT and Cultural Affairs and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister. Hailing the project as an “exceptional example of engineering,” Shelar emphasized its potential to significantly ease traffic between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs.
The inauguration saw attendance from key political and civic figures, including MP Ravindra Waikar, MLAs Amit Satam and Murji Patel, Abhijit Bangar (Additional Municipal Commissioner, Projects), Shashank Bhore (Deputy Commissioner, Infrastructure), and Uttam Shrote (Chief Engineer, Bridges). Praising the BMC’s bridge department and Indian Railways for their coordination, MLA Amit Satam stated the bridge was completed in just 28 months, despite delays in installing massive steel girders.
The total length of the Gokhale Bridge is 511 metres, with a width of 27 metres that accommodates three traffic lanes on each side and footpaths. The 90-metre section over the railway tracks is supported by RCC piers and features two steel girders, each weighing 1,300 tonnes. The approach roads span 421 metres—231 metres on the eastern side and the remainder on the western—comprising solid approaches, multiple spans, concrete deck slabs, and asphalted surfaces.
Constructed using pre-fabricated technology, anti-corrosion steel, and vibration-absorbing joints, the bridge was completed without disrupting railway operations—an engineering feat that drew wide appreciation.
From Sunday evening, light motor vehicles are permitted to use the bridge. Heavy vehicles will be allowed only after height barricades are removed at a later stage.
The Gokhale Bridge is part of a broader effort by the BMC to enhance the city’s infrastructure ahead of the monsoon. Two more key flyovers—Vikhroli (by May 31) and Carnac Bridge (by June 10)—are expected to open soon. Abhijit Bangar reiterated that the bridge department is committed to combining speed with quality, while minimizing inconvenience to the public during ongoing infrastructure upgrades.