The estimated cost of repairing and maintaining the Gundavali Road Bridge at Andheri East on Mumbai’s Western Express Highway has increased from Rs 114 crore to Rs 130.36 crore, following additional technical requirements and consultancy inputs.
The bridge, located on the Western Express Highway, was originally under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Its maintenance responsibilities were later transferred to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). In December 2022, control of the Eastern and Western Express Highways was transferred to the MMRDA and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), respectively.
The Andheri bridge was constructed during the tenure of the coalition government and was among the early projects conceived under a build-operate-transfer model. The structure was also planned to incorporate a shopping complex beneath it. However, the commercial component could not be completed, and the bridge eventually became operational primarily for vehicular traffic.
The structure spans three major signal junctions, including Goldspot and Chakala, making it an important link for traffic moving through Andheri East.
Although the Western Express Highway has now come under the BMC, the formal transfer of the Andheri East bridge itself has not yet been completed. Nevertheless, the civic body has initiated the repair and maintenance process and invited tenders for the work.
Freycinet Prestressed Concrete Company Limited was selected as the contractor. Initially, Rs 114 crore, including applicable taxes, was sanctioned for the project. Subsequently, another Rs 3 crore was approved, while an additional Rs 12.80 crore has now been sought.
This has taken the proposed expenditure to Rs 130.36 crore, representing an increase of more than Rs 16 crore from the original estimate.
Officials from the BMC’s bridge department said the higher expenditure is linked to recommendations made by additional technical consultants during the repair planning process. The revised requirement reflects the need to incorporate these technical inputs into the ongoing bridge rehabilitation work.
Source: Prahaar
