Ghatkopar Bridge Delay Extended to June 2027 Over Encroachment Issues

15 May 2025 CW Team

Originally built during the British era, the 78-year-old bridge gained priority after the collapse of the Gokhale Bridge, which led to structural audits across Mumbai. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) identified the Ghatkopar ROB as being overloaded and in urgent need of renovation. Consequently, the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), funded by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), was tasked with the rebuilding project.

The new design proposes a cable-stayed bridge over the railway tracks along with a bowstring steel span over Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road. This design aims to remove the need for support pillars beneath heavily trafficked roads, thus preventing additional congestion. Moreover, the structure will intersect two metro corridors and the forthcoming bullet train line, positioning it as a key transport hub.

Although work orders were issued in 2022, the project has encountered several delays. Currently, only maintenance work is keeping the aging bridge functional, with heavy vehicles prohibited from crossing it. As a consequence, BEST buses and commercial vehicles have had to take longer alternate routes, which has adversely affected connectivity to places such as Sakinaka and the international airport.

A local resident, Ajay Bagal, pointed out that the biggest obstacle has been encroachments along the approach roads, particularly on the west side, where shops and a recently constructed Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) building have blocked the alignment. While the MRIDC is responsible for the bridge’s construction, it has stated that clearing these encroachments falls under the jurisdiction of the BMC.

It is expected that the right-hand lanes of the new bridge will be completed within a year, after which the old bridge will be dismantled and traffic diverted. Until then, alternative east-west routes at Vidyavihar and Vikhroli will provide partial relief, although Bagal emphasized that the Ghatkopar ROB remains essential to reducing pressure on one of the city’s most congested corridors.

News source: Urban Acres

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

The completion timeline for the Ghatkopar railway overbridge (ROB) in Mumbai has been extended by nearly two years, shifting from the original 2025 deadline to June 2027. The bridge, which serves as a crucial connection between Ghatkopar East and West, is undergoing a full reconstruction aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the eastern suburbs of the city.Originally built during the British era, the 78-year-old bridge gained priority after the collapse of the Gokhale Bridge, which led to structural audits across Mumbai. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) identified the Ghatkopar ROB as being overloaded and in urgent need of renovation. Consequently, the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), funded by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), was tasked with the rebuilding project.The new design proposes a cable-stayed bridge over the railway tracks along with a bowstring steel span over Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road. This design aims to remove the need for support pillars beneath heavily trafficked roads, thus preventing additional congestion. Moreover, the structure will intersect two metro corridors and the forthcoming bullet train line, positioning it as a key transport hub.Although work orders were issued in 2022, the project has encountered several delays. Currently, only maintenance work is keeping the aging bridge functional, with heavy vehicles prohibited from crossing it. As a consequence, BEST buses and commercial vehicles have had to take longer alternate routes, which has adversely affected connectivity to places such as Sakinaka and the international airport.A local resident, Ajay Bagal, pointed out that the biggest obstacle has been encroachments along the approach roads, particularly on the west side, where shops and a recently constructed Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) building have blocked the alignment. While the MRIDC is responsible for the bridge’s construction, it has stated that clearing these encroachments falls under the jurisdiction of the BMC.It is expected that the right-hand lanes of the new bridge will be completed within a year, after which the old bridge will be dismantled and traffic diverted. Until then, alternative east-west routes at Vidyavihar and Vikhroli will provide partial relief, although Bagal emphasized that the Ghatkopar ROB remains essential to reducing pressure on one of the city’s most congested corridors.News source: Urban Acres

Infrastructure Transport

01 Sep 2025

Indian Railways Marks New Milestone with 4.5 km Long ‘Rudrastra’ Trial

Indian Railways has successfully conducted the trial run of Asia’s longest freight train, named ‘Rudrastra’, achieving a new milestone in cargo transportation, as per news reports. The 4.5 km-long train began its trial from Ganjkhwaja railway station in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, and travelled to Garhwa in Jharkhand. Covering a distance of 209 km in 5 hours and 10 minutes, it maintained an average speed of 40.5 km per hour. The train was formed by combining three long-haul racks, with ..

Infrastructure Energy

01 Sep 2025

UltraTech Launches India’s First On-Site Hybrid RTC Renewable Energy Project

UltraTech Cement has operationalised a 7.5 MW round-the-clock (RTC) hybrid renewable energy project at its Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The first-of-its-kind solution combines bifacial solar modules with trackers, wind energy and battery storage, co-located on-site, to ensure uninterrupted power for cement manufacturing without grid reliance. The project was executed in collaboration with clean energy solutions provider Gentari. Installed as a behind-the-meter system, it is the country..

Infrastructure Transport

09 Sep 2025

Patna Metro Trials Successful, Red Line Priority Corridor to Launch This Month

Patna is set to roll out its first metro rail service later this month, with successful trial runs conducted on the Red Line priority corridor, the Patna Metro Rail Corporation announced.On 7 September, a metro train completed a test run between the Patna depot and Bhootnath station. Officials said the trials involved rigorous checks of rolling stock fitness, overhead electrification (OHE), and track alignment and stability to ensure operational safety and performance.The corridor from the New Pataliputra Bus Terminal to Bhoothnath has been designated as the priority stretch and will be the fi..