The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a statement on Monday, March 4, addressing the criticism it received on social media for not connecting the two major flyovers in Andheri—the Gokhale Bridge and the Barfiwala Flyover.
It is pertinent to note that after the wait of over a year, one lane of the bridge was inaugurated on Monday, February 26 and thrown open for traffic; however, only light vehicles are currently allowed.
The BMC clarified that the initial phase of reconstruction never included plans to connect the two flyovers as it had considered various options. Earlier, it was reported that the drawings of the Barfiwala Flyover had gone missing and therefore their height mismatched.
The civic body cited the height difference of 2.833 metres between the two structures as the main reason. As a result, BMC hired IIT and VJTI as consultants. Considering the safety implications, the connection between the two structures was not recommended by design consultants.
The BMC added that any attempt to modify the Barfiwala Flyover to connect with the Gokhale Bridge would have led to traffic chaos on S V Road and Barfiwala Road.
Moreover, the slopes of the new Gokhale Bridge arm and the northbound Barfiwala Flyover were in opposite directions, which could lead to accidents.
During the inauguration, BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal stated that the second arm of the Gokhale Bridge would open and both flyovers would be connected by the end of the year. Whereas activists have urged the civic body to admit its mistake and take corrective measures. They criticised the BMC for its inability to link the two bridges and for the missing drawings of the Barfiwala Flyover.
In 2018, a section of the Gokhale Bridge collapsed, resulting in two fatalities. The bridge was once one of the busiest roads in the suburb. It was a vital link between Andheri East and Andheri West. It was completely shut down in November 2022 following a routine inspection that deemed it hazardous.
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