"Inexplicable Delay” In Delisle Bridge Work, Says Aaditya Thackeray; Here's How Railway Official Respond

Yet another blame game by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Railways has brought no constructive solutions to the ongoing work at Delisle bridge in Mumbai.

This development came to light on Sunday, April 10, when Maharashtra Environment and Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray visited to review the site of construction.

Taking it to Twitter, he said that there has been “inexplicable delay” in girder-launching and other work completion by a year despite writing to the railway minister for intervention.

“While multiple reviews have been held, all hurdles smoothened, the work of the girder launching by railways have been delayed for over a year, with no explanation to either BMC or citizens. I had earlier written to the Union Minister, Railways for his intervention... Only post the work of the railways, can the BMC initiate ramp works. While one side of the Delisle Road bridge can be completed by the civic body, it is awaiting an NOC from railways so that at least there’s some relief to traffic on one end of the bridge where the work has been completed by the BMC,” Thackeray shared.

This morning I visited the on going work at the Delisle Road bridge. While multiple reviews have been held, all hurdles smoothened, the work of the girder launching by @RailMinIndia has been delayed for over a year, with no explanation to either @mybmc or citizens (1/n) pic.twitter.com/Q31qXWXXen

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 10, 2022

Responding to the same, the Western Railways (WR) officials said the railway portion of the ROB was delayed during the two waves of COVID-19 due to labour issues and also unavailability of oxygen, which is required for welding and other construction activities.

Two girders remain to be installed, after which the approach roads on both sides will be constructed by the BMC, WR chief spokesperson Sumit Thakur told TOI.

He further stated that the first girder will be installed in May and the second by August this year. The ROB could be thrown open to the public tentatively by the year-end or early next year.

Delisle Bridge was shut after IIT-Bombay said it was corroded. Three years ago, IIT-B had inspected the structure in the wake of the Gokhale bridge collapse in Andheri.