Mumbai’s Gopal Krishna Gokhale Railway Overbridge Reaches Pivotal Phase in Early 2024
Mumbai, 2nd January 2024: A significant development in the construction of the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Railway Overbridge (ROB) is on the horizon, as confirmed by a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official on Saturday. The initial segment of the under-construction bridge is slated to be positioned in the early months of the upcoming year, with the anticipated timeframe for this crucial step set for the night between January 1 and 2.
The term “lowering the girder” signifies the placement of the superstructure onto the supporting pillars of the bridge, marking the conclusive stage of the girder launch. The open web girder (OWG) launch, initiated on December 3, is crucial to the overall construction process.
The official mentioned that all project plans, blueprints, and documents were submitted to railway authorities on December 29, seeking final approval for the girder’s lowering between January 1 and 2. Once approval is granted, the entire bridge will be assembled, paving the way for the subsequent construction phases.
The BMC has set a target of mid-February to open one side of the bridge for vehicular traffic. Each side will feature three lanes to facilitate east-west traffic flow. Following the installation of the first girder, the BMC will proceed with the final steps to establish asphalt roads on the bridge, ensuring a smooth flow of vehicular movement.
The OWG, a prefabricated structure crafted in an Ambala workshop, was transported to Mumbai and assembled near the construction site. The Gokhale ROB spans a length of 90 meters, making it the second-longest railway overbridge in Mumbai, following the Vidyavihar ROB in the eastern suburbs. The OWG itself weighs approximately 1,300 metric tonnes.
The old Gokhale bridge’s predecessor was a vital east-west connector that closed in November of the preceding year due to concerns about weak structural stability. The old structure was demolished in December, with the work order for the new bridge issued in January of the current year.
