VJTI & IIT had too many riders for Andheri's Gokhale bridge reopening: Report

MUMBAI: An internal report of the BMC on Gokhale bridge accessed by TOI has stated that the bridge will remain shut till it is fully reconstructed.
Following the closure of the bridge last month, VJTI and IIT were asked to inspect the structure to check if the same can be reopened to light motor vehicles (LMVs) to which both agreed that it could be reopened with conditions.
However, a BMC report following the two inspections has said, “Visual inspection reports cannot be relied upon. There are too many conditions given for reopening of the bridge which are vague and not detailed. Since the issue involves safety of commuters, the bridge shall be kept closed.” The VJTI report suggested re-opening of the bridge provided that several repairs on it are undertaken, while the IIT-B report said that two-lane traffic of LMVs (two-wheeler, three-wheeler goods and passengers, and four-wheeler passenger vehicles) on middle four girders may be permitted and that no repair of slab, RC girders, bearings, piers are required and if strengthening of the existing bridge is to be taken up for extended service life, it should be done with no traffic allowed.
Meanwhile, the BMC report has also stated that the contractor constructing the approaches of the bridge has been asked to start demolishing the western side approaches also quickly so that the new bridge can be constructed within time.
The BMC report mentions that non-destructive tests (NDT) which provide results on the strength and real properties of the concrete structure which were conducted in the year 2019, showed poor results. “If the same NDT tests are conducted today, the results would be worse and not satisfactory for opening the bridge,” the report said. After the overhanging part of the bridge had collapsed in July 2018, the BMC appointed M/s CV Kand to carry out a structural audit of the bridge. The consultant had carried out the NDT test and concluded to demolish and reconstruct the superstructure and replace along with new bearings.