Mumbai, August 22: The latest bridge in Mumbai that is set to get a major overhaul by civic agencies is the Patripul bridge in Kalyan. In its place, a new six-lane bridge is likely to come up in the coming months. The dismantling work of the 104-year-old rail over-bridge is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. According to a report by TOI, the decision to dismantle it was taken at a joint meeting held by Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), Central Railway (CR) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The Kalyan-Dombivali area is likely to witness traffic snarls in the coming days once the reconstruction begins.

In July, the bridge was partially closed to heavy vehicles after the Central Railway declared it unsafe. The decision by the Central Railways came after the Gokhale bridge collapse. The reconstruction of the old bridge comes after its condition deteriorated in the last few years. It must be noted that the Patripul bridge served as an intercity link to Navi Mumbai after the Mumbra bypass was closed.

The bridges in Mumbai which have been in news are:

  1. Delisle Road Over-bridge in Lower Parel: The demolition work has begun. The Delisle Road Over-bridge was built in 1921. Authorities will shift utilities, including over 50 cables that pass through the bridge. It will take at least 20 months to complete the new ROB.

  2. Gokhale Bridge: On July 3, part of the bridge collapsed, claiming one life and injuring four pedestrians. The south-end of the bridge has been shut following the collapse. Reports inform that the pathway of the GK Gokhale bridge between Andheri and Vile Parle stations was deeply corroded.

  3. Currey Road Bridge: A crucial portion of the age-old Currey Road station bridge was to be razed after the BMC’s staffers claimed to have found cracks on it. Reports inform that BMC’s bridges department had not provided a 'no objection' certificate for the demolition.

  4. Kalanagar road overbridge in Bandra: The Western Railway in July shut the pedestrian portion of a road over-bridge near Kalanagar to avert another bridge collapse in the city.

  5. Badlapur foot over bridge: The Central Railway decided to shut the bridge that connected platform 1, 2 and 3. The bridge will be shut for repairs from August 9 to September 3.

Reports inform that recently, an audit of 445 structures that pass across railway tracks, was conducted by IIT-B, Western Railway, Central Railway and BMC.  According to a TOI report, KDMC commissioner Govid Bodke informed that from Wednesday, the removal of utility services including streetlights and BSNL cables will begin. Following this, the railways will demolish the bridge.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2018 04:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).