Mumbai: There Will Be No Western Line Trains for 20 Days Owing to Gokhale Bridge Construction, Services Were Also Affected Today

Beginning on November 27, the Western Railways (WR) will halt train operations in Mumbai for a period of 20 days. The goal of the critical 20-day block schedule is to enable the girder launch for the Gokhale bridge, which is currently being built to link SV Road and the Western Express Highway in Andheri.

A report claims that the goal is to launch the south carriageway girder after the north carriageway girder’s successful launch in October.

This girder, which stretches an amazing 90 meters, will rank as the second biggest railway bridge girder in the city. According to the study, the procedures of assembling, pushing, and launching would occur at a height of 25 meters.

Each girder, which weighs around 1,300 tons, will be lifted and released by a crane that has been particularly made, according to FPJ. The Gokhale bridge, which was built in 1975, is now undergoing a thorough restoration that would likely cost Rs 90 crore.

According to the article, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to partly open the bridge in February 2024 after falling short of the original November 2023 timetable.

Residents in the area have lately requested the assistance of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, citing several delays in the Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge’s opening. The article said that the action was taken to guarantee that the bridge construction would be finished on schedule.

“At the time the bridge was shut, we had requested to construct it with the help of the Indian Army who had built the foot over bridge in Parel in record time,” said Dhaval Shah, President of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association. The fourth postponement of the Gokhale Bridge opening date has confirmed our worst fears. We urge the chief minister to step in because we think the new date will likewise be extended.

In addition, the Western Railway informed on Wednesday that a few trains on the Up and Down main lines between Valsad and Dungri will be canceled for two hours on Thursday, November 23.

The reason given was the girder launch for a railroad overbridge. On Thursday between 11.10 AM and 1.10 PM, there will be a two-hour disruption to the train services along this particular segment.