Encroachments Delay Rs 1 Billion Ghatkopar Bridge Project

The bridge, which starts at the Golibar Road junction near LBS Marg and extends up to the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), serves as a critical east–west connector in Ghatkopar. The reconstruction project, divided into two phases, is being executed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) with financial support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Although the work order was issued in 2022, the project has made little progress owing to encroachments along the approach roads, which have slowed both bridge construction and road widening efforts.

On Thursday, Gagrani, accompanied by local MLAs Ram Kadam and Parag Shah, along with MahaRail Managing Director Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal and senior BMC bridge officials, conducted an on-site inspection of the project.

A civic official said that while nearly 80 structures have been cleared, around 150 remain, some of which are eligible for compensation. Gagrani instructed officials to survey affected residential and non-residential occupants and begin rehabilitation immediately.

He emphasised the need for close coordination with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to speed up resettlement, stating, “Rehabilitation must be completed in phases to accelerate construction. Utility relocation should also proceed systematically to prevent further delays.”

The commissioner further ordered a structural audit of the existing railway bridge and coordination with traffic police to restrict heavy vehicle movement while ensuring alternative public routes.

The Ghatkopar bridge, previously audited by the Indian Institute of Technology–Bombay (IIT-B) in 2018 following the Gokhale Bridge collapse, was found to be overloaded and in need of major repairs.

To alleviate congestion, the BMC plans to expand the AGLR to 47.5 metres and build a 216-metre-long, 11-metre-wide bridge with three lanes in each direction. Initially slated for completion by the end of 2025, the project is now expected to be completed by June 2027 due to the encroachment-related delays.

Once completed, the upgraded bridge and widened link road are expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity between Andheri and Ghatkopar, two of Mumbai’s busiest suburban corridors.