Year on, repair of key bridge on the cards

More than a year after part of the crucial Sion-Dharavi-Mahim bridge collapsed, the civic administration has finally decided to repair it.

The proposal to repair the bridge that connects traffic from Tulsi Pipe Road, Sion, Dharavi and Bandra junction has undergone two design changes before it is being sent for final approval.

The intial proposal to repair the bridge suggested that the bridge be built of steel structure, after the body of consultants that looked into the cause of the collapse attributed it to structural failure as the pillars holding the bridge had rusted and given way.

"Initially we suggested the bridge be reconstructed as a steel structure but eventually we decided on cement-concrete mix. There is fear that the bridge will rust due to saline water that overflows from the nearby Mahim creek," said a senior civic official from the Bridge department.

The bridge over the Dadar-Dharavi nullah was built in 1991. In August last year, part of the bridge collapsed after its foundation caved in. Since then, traffic has been diverted to the parallel Sion-Mahim bridge.

While the original proposal was to repair the collapsed part, the civic administration finally decided to demolish the bridge and rebuild it.

Although the proposal is yet to be finally approved, the tender process will begin next month, said an official.

Meanwhile, BMC is finding it difficult to find contractors to repair three of its crucial bridges.

The civic administration had decided to urgently repair the Jagannath Sunkersett bridge at Dadar, the Currey Road bridge, and the Elphinstone bridge, which are all in a highly dilapidated condition. They did not receive even a single bid. The BMC which had floated tenders for the repair of 20 dilapidated bridges had kept aside a budget of about 40 crore for the repair work and resurfacing.

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