BMC to seek IIT-Bombay experts’ review for Bhandup railway overbridge design

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC will seek assistance from experts at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay to verify the design of the proposed Bhandup railway overbridge ROB particularly focusing on a sharp turn in its alignment The decision was taken after civic officials reviewed the progress of the infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity between Bhandup East and Bhandup WestDuring an inspection of the site on Friday Additional Municipal Commissioner Projects Abhijit Bangar directed that the design of the bridge undergo independent technical verification by IITBombay experts to ensure safety and smooth traffic movement once the structure becomes operationalIITB experts to review sharp turn in bridge alignmentAccording to civic officials the proposed overbridge includes a sharp turn at the point where the structure descends onto Veer Savarkar Road before connecting with the eastndashwest road alignmentAlthough the design has been prepared according to established engineering standards Bangar instructed that it be independently reviewed by specialists from IITBombay to eliminate any potential safety concernsIn addition to the design review he also directed officials to conduct a comprehensive traffic simulation study The study will analyse projected traffic flow and help determine whether any design modifications are required to ensure safe and efficient vehicular movement after the bridge opensProject to improve eastndashwest connectivity in BhandupThe proposed 530metrelong railway overbridge is expected to significantly improve connectivity between the eastern and western parts of Bhandup which currently lack a direct road link across the railway tracksOnce completed the bridge will connect Veer Savarkar Road with Lal Bahadur Shastri LBS Road providing commuters with a faster route between the two sides of the suburbAt present motorists travelling between Bhandup East and Bhandup West often have to take a detour of nearly five kilometres resulting in longer travel times and traffic congestion The new bridge is expected to reduce travel time considerably while easing pressure on major roads in the areaProject expected to ease traffic congestionCivic officials said the bridge will also help reduce traffic load on nearby routes particularly the JogeshwarindashVikhroli Link Road JVLR and surrounding arterial roadsBangar also emphasised the need to ensure pedestrian safety and accessibility He directed project engineers to incorporate accessible footpaths on the bridge to facilitate safe movement for pedestrians railway commuters and local residentsConstruction progress and timelineThe BMC issued the work order for the project in October 2023 while actual construction work began in 2024 According to officials around 30 per cent of the construction work has been completed so farThe bridge will pass over the railway tracks near Bhandup railway station and will consist of 14 spans including sections on both sides of the railway line and two spans crossing the tracksThe road width will be 115 metres within municipal limits and 156 metres across the railway sectionOn the western side of the project piling and pile cap work for the pillars has been completed and girders have already been installed between the initial spans On the eastern side piling work for some pillars has also been completedSteel girders for the railway section are currently being fabricated at a facility in Ambala officials saidLand acquisition and utility shifting underwayBangar also reviewed issues related to land acquisition and infrastructure relocation linked to the projectThe civic bodyrsquos Development Planning Department will handle the acquisition of salt pan land required for the 2745metre road alignment Meanwhile the Hydraulic Engineerrsquos Department is working on shifting major water pipelines of 600 mm and 900 mm diameter that currently obstruct the foundation area on the eastern sideThe civic official instructed departments involved in the project to ensure that the work progresses smoothly and that the bridge is completed and opened for traffic by January 31 2027 as plannedOnce operational the Bhandup railway overbridge is expected to reduce congestion cut travel time and improve connectivity across the eastern suburb benefiting thousands of daily commuters