| Work Detail |
The Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (Maharail) has chosen two distinct designs-a cable-stayed structure and a bowstring design—for the construction of a 1.5km-long bridge on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road. The bridge will connect the Ghatkopar BEST depot to LBS Road, with an interchange facility at the 90-feet road junction to enable smooth traffic flow to and from Pant Nagar. It will also cross LBS Road to alleviate congestion for commuters heading towards Andheri.
An official from Maharail explained, "The section above the railway tracks will use a cable-stayed design, while the portion near the 90-feet junction will feature a bowstring design." In the initial phase, one arm of the cable-stayed road over bridge (ROB) will be constructed to maintain traffic flow on the existing bridge. The second arm will be built later, after diverting traffic to the newly constructed segment and dismantling the old bridge.
This bridge construction project is crucial for improving east-west connectivity in the eastern suburbs, especially since the existing 45-year-old bridge has been deemed unsafe. After the Gokhale bridge collapse in July 2018, Central Railway (CR) conducted a survey to identify structures needing reinforcement. As a result, the pedestrian section of the Ghatkopar road over-bridge linking LBS Road to the Eastern Express Highway was closed on July 8, 2018. In 2019, authorities also imposed a ban on vehicles weighing over 16 tonnes from using this bridge.
The new bridge is expected to enhance safety and improve traffic flow in the region, addressing longstanding concerns about the condition of the existing infrastructure. |
