MUMBAI: On Sunday evening, Gokhale Bridge, connecting Andheri East and West, was made fully operational after nearly seven years since the tragic collapse of a portion of it in July 2018—which claimed two lives and injured three.After the July 3, 2018 disaster, the bridge was shut for almost a year, only to be partially opened in 2019. But owing to Covid, the bridge didn’t experience major traffic movement.

When the pandemic restrictions began to ease by Nov 2022, the bridge was again shut after an inspection revealed that various elements, including RCC columns, tie beams, girders, deck slabs and bearings, were heavily distressed and weakened due to corrosion. Between Nov 2022 and Feb 2024, it was completely shut for reconstruction.For Andheri residents, Sunday evening marked the end of a long wait, as the bridge was fully opened to traffic. Over the last seven years, the bridge remained either closed, under repair, or partially accessible—disrupting east-west connectivity. Locals are relieved, especially with the monsoon approaching, as the heavily waterlogged Andheri subway was the only alternative.

“The bridge’s reopening will ease pressure on the Andheri subway,” said Karan Jotwani from the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA). Another resident, Abhijeet Sonone, said there would be a huge traffic backlog on the route on many days, with only one phase open. “But this was still better than the bridge being entirely shut to traffic,” he said.Guardian minister Ashish Shelar, who inaugurated the bridge, congratulated local MLA Ameet Satam for regularly following up with the authorities to ensure the bridge was completed. Also present were Andheri (East) MLA Murji Patel and MP Ravindra Waikar.When some residents raised concerns about the quality of the bridge’s road surfacing, Satam said the road has been made with mastic asphalt and will settle in time. “That’s the way it is made,” he said.Additional municipal commissioners Abhijit Bangar said the administration was clear that it did not want to go beyond the monsoon for finishing the bridge. “We had set May 15 as the target and are happy that our team has worked hard to open it well before time,” he said.