MUMBAI’S BARFIWALA FLYOVER REOPENS BRIEFLY, CLOSES AGAIN – WHAT EXACTLY IS THE STATUS?

Mumbai’s CD Barfiwala flyover connecting with Gokhale bridge is back in the news. The flyover briefly opened to motorists before being abruptly shut down half an hour later. The connector is now scheduled to officially open on July 4 at 5 PM.

What did BMC officials say?

According to BMC officials, the opening was disrupted when plastic barricades on the flyover were removed by unknown individuals, prompting authorities to halt traffic movement, reported The Times of India.

As work on the bridge is not yet complete, we had to take the precautionary measure of stopping traffic, explained a senior traffic police officer.

The alignment issue between the Barfiwala flyover and Gokhale bridge had previously sparked criticism in February when the reconstructed arm of Gokhale bridge first opened to motorists. The Barfiwala flyover had remained closed since then to address these alignment concerns, and its temporary reopening on July 1 was met with initial relief from locals, although their optimism was short-lived.

Additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar expressed concern over the barricade removal incident, announcing plans to investigate with the deputy municipal commissioner. He affirmed the decision to proceed with opening the connector on July 4, backed by a positive load test report on structural safety and confirmation from VJTI.

Officials emphasized that the Barfiwala flyover, upon reopening, will only accommodate light vehicles due to its connection with the partially opened Gokhale bridge, which currently permits light vehicle traffic to ensure commuter safety and manage structural load.

In response to the incident, the traffic department had previously urged BMC to fulfill safety requirements before opening the Barfiwala connector, including installing a traffic signal, speed breaker, pedestrian crossing, and stop line near the Mayor Hall signal, 35 feet from the start of the Barfiwala flyover where it meets Gokhale bridge.

Local residents expressed skepticism over the removal of barricades by the public and suggested potential miscommunication among authorities. The complete opening of Gokhale bridge is anticipated by March 2025, coinciding with the readiness of the second arm of the Barfiwala flyover.

Meanwhile, BMC is considering plans to construct a staircase for pedestrian East-West connectivity in Andheri, aiming to enhance local infrastructure and accessibility.

Notably, BMC’s response to similar incidents, such as MLA Aaditya Thackeray’s involvement in the Lower Parel’s Delisle bridge issue in November 2023, underscores the importance of maintaining protocol and safety in public infrastructure projects.

2024-07-03T09:39:57Z dg43tfdfdgfd