New Vasai Bridge May Be Dangerous: Palghar MP

Vasai, 29th December 2022: Palghar MP Rajendra Gavit alleged that the new under-construction Versova Bridge over Bhayander Bay may be dangerous.

On Wednesday, he visited the site alongside the National Highway and Traffic Police and inspected it. Gavit and his private architects alleged that there were structural defects in the bridge. The bridge will have girders cast after the construction, which Gavit’s architects believe will cause the bridge to be weak and unable to bear the load of the vehicles when it is opened. Gavit also found many cracks in the construction, and criticised the fact that the bridge’s lifespan was only 50 years.

Officials assured that the cracks will be repaired. However, they also claim that installing the girders later will have no effect on the bridge. The bridge will also be inspected by an expert engineer and the necessary changes will be made.

The first bridge over Bhayander Bay, which was built in 1968, has now weakened. So, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) started constructing a new bridge over the bay in 2018, next to the old one. The bridge is now in the final stages of its construction.

Officials of the NHAI said that the work of the first phase of the bridge will be completed by February 1, when the Mumbai to Surat and the Thane to SUrat route will be started. However the Surat to Mumbai route will not be finished till May.