August 29, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is currently undertaking repair and strengthening work on the Jog flyover in Andheri at an estimated cost of Rs 76 crore, has sought an additional Rs 8 crore for further structural reinforcement. The request follows recommendations by a joint team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), who advised strengthening the bridge’s columns after fresh tests.
The BMC has confirmed it will write to the Public Works Department (PWD), asking the department either to carry out the additional work themselves or to reimburse the civic body for the extra expenditure. “The initial scope of work was drawn up on the basis of visual inspection and non-destructive testing,” explained a civic official. “However, once the repairs commenced, destructive tests were conducted. Following these, IIT and VJTI recommended strengthening of the columns, which was not part of the original plan.”
The repair programme was launched after a portion of the flyover’s underside collapsed on a passing car in July last year, raising concerns over safety. While no fatalities were reported, the incident intensified scrutiny of the city’s ageing infrastructure.
According to officials, the additional strengthening work will push costs close to Rs crore. “The BMC has already approved expenditure of Rs 2 crore,” another official said. “However, the remaining Rs 8 crore must be reimbursed to us by the PWD.”
The civic body has made it clear that the responsibility for financing or executing the column-strengthening lies with the PWD. Meanwhile, essential repairs continue in an effort to ensure the safety and stability of one of Andheri’s busiest flyovers, which carries thousands of commuters daily.
Source: Times Of India
