Second Arm of Andheri's Gokhale Bridge Inaugurated, Minister Ashish Shelar Hails Fast-Track Completion As 'Success Story'; See Pics

The much-awaited second arm of the Gokhale Road bridge linking the western and eastern parts of Andheri was inaugurated on Sunday evening by Cultural Minister and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar,

Speaking during the inauguration, Shelar said that this bridge offered a glimpse of Mumbai's fast-paced development in the future. He asked local MLA Ameet Satam, who was present at the occasion, to write a book called 'Bridge - A Success Story' on the successful execution of the project in record time. 

BJP leader Ashish Shelar, Amit Satam and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar inaugurated the second and final phase of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, Mumbai BJP leader Ashish Shelar, Amit Satam and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar inaugurated the second and final phase of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, Mumbai

Satam described the bridge's construction as one of the fastest-completed projects by the BMC in recent times. “The Gokhale Bridge was made operational—one arm within 15 months of closure, and fully operational within 28 months. This is an extraordinary engineering feat, especially considering it involved construction over an active railway line,” said Satam who sought blessings from Mumbaikars so that record-breaking speed at which the Gokhale Bridge was completed can be replicated on a large scale in Mumbai. He drew a contrast with the Delisle Bridge, Lower Parel, which was opened to traffic in November 2023 after a five-year delay, despite work having commenced in August 2018.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar, Amit Satam and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar inaugurated the second and final phase of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, Mumbai

Satam criticised the indecisiveness and lack of clarity within the BMC under the Shiv Sena-led administration of then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In July 2018, a portion of the bridge collapsed, tragically claiming two lives. “Following the incident, the BMC began considering reconstruction of the collapsed section. However, there was a delay of 20 months before a work order was finally issued in March 2020 by the BMC administration. Despite that, actual work began in November 2021. Even then, there was little clarity on whether the section above the railway tracks would be rebuilt by the railways or the BMC,” Satam explained.

Detailing the project's execution, Satam said that in November 2022, he visited the site to assess progress. “During that visit, a BMC-appointed consultant shared a structural audit report indicating the bridge was in an extremely dilapidated condition. The steel had rusted significantly, and it was a disaster waiting to happen,” he added.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar, Amit Satam and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar inaugurated the second and final phase of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, Mumbai BJP leader Ashish Shelar, Amit Satam and Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar inaugurated the second and final phase of Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, Mumbai

Satam said that he took up the issue with the then Municipal Commissioner, Iqbal Singh Chahal, who promptly ordered the closure of the bridge in November 2022. “Soon after, a joint meeting was convened with then Suburban Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the BMC, and the railways, during which a comprehensive reconstruction strategy was chalked out. From that point on, the project gained significant momentum,” he said.

Satam further stated that demolition of the old bridge began in January 2023, and construction of the new bridge commenced in March 2023. “We conducted regular site visits to monitor progress, and the project benefited from the involvement of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who visited the site twice. These combined efforts culminated in the opening of one arm of the bridge on 26 February 2024—just 15 months after its closure. Work on the second arm followed and has now been successfully completed. Today, both arms of the Gokhale Bridge are fully operational,” Satam added.