Ghatkopar bridge in Mumbai to be demolished only after creation of alternate route

Mumbai's eastern suburbs are facing a bridge crisis, and the BMC is in a race against time. The demolition of the old Ghatkopar bridge in Mumbai before construction of a new route is expected to created major traffic blocks. Coming to the rescue of everyday motorists, Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MRIDC) has decided not to demolish the old bridge before constructing an alternative rail overbridge on the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road.

Dilapidated Ghatkopar bridge is slated to be razed soon but the next best option for motorists, which is at Vikhroli, is only 40% complete. Work on Vikhroli has been in motion for the past four years (2018), and had to be completed by May 2023, however, only its pillars have been erected till now.

Besides, if the Ghatkopar bridge is closed before completing the Vikhroli bridge, huge traffic jams along the eastern suburbs are anticipated. Motorists will have the option of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, which is generally packed with traffic. Apart from this, a bridge on Mahatma Gandhi Road will be available to travel from Ghatkopar east to west but it is a single-lane bridge.

Keeping the above issues and the traffic of eastern suburbs in mind, BMC and MRIDC have now decided to completely demolish the Ghatkopar bridge only after constructing a new rail overbridge on the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road.