The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently conducted load-carrying capacity tests where tons of load were placed on Delisle bridge for 48 hours.
After this, a certification was provided by the engineers in the Bridges Department, the green signal has been given for the bridge's opening. Moreover, the BMC earlier stated that the main connector of Lower Parel remained closed due to ongoing light testing. Now the streetlights have been installed on the carriageway.
Therefore, Delisle Bridge is now officially set to open on Thursday, November 23, sources stated. And for this, the civic body administration is coordinating with the schedules of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Guardian Ministers.
An engineer explained that the load testing was conducted for three days. Additionally, consultants also performed separate load testing, placing four trucks with loaded material on different parts of the bridge. Each truck had a capacity of 20-25 tonnes and was kept for 48 hours.
According to the officer, the current Delisle Bridge is expected to have a lifespan of 50 years. Hence, extreme conditions, such as heavy loads during the Ganesh festival or peak traffic, were considered before approving the bridge's opening. After determining the load-carrying capacity, the bridge's expected lifespan is established.
It is pertinent to note that this development also came soon after the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray forcibly inaugurated the second arm of the bridge. Following a case was registered against Thackeray for opening Delisle Bridge without BMC's permission.
Besides, despite the completion of construction, the bridge at Delisle Road is still closed awaiting inauguration. Due to this, Aaditya Thackeray has become aggressive on the issue that the drivers of the surrounding areas are facing unnecessary hardship. In this matter, he has once again put the government, municipality and MMRDA on edge.
On Tuesday, November 21, he wrote on X that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should open the Delisle road bridge, which has been closed to protect the ego of the Shinde-BJP government, for traffic. The bridge has already been completed 15 days ago and the inauguration is awaited by VIPs.
Hi @mybmc please open up the Delisle Road bridge that you have kept shut to satisfy the egos of the mindhe- bjp Govt. It has been ready for 15 days and you await a VIP inauguration. @MMRDAOfficial same with the MTHL. You can have your minister ego satisfying event later when… pic.twitter.com/0FJN2zXV1E
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) November 21, 2023
In 2018, Delisle Bridge was closed for vehicles, and though it was supposed to open in 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays. However, in December 2022, the railway handed over the Delisle Bridge project to BMC upon completing their part. Subsequently, BMC finished the remaining work, opening one arm during the Ganesh festival and completing the second arm during the Diwali festival.
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