BMC may repair three flyovers from November end

Mumbaikars should brace themselves for some inconvenience due to maintenance work of three bridges in south Mumbai — Kemps Corner, Mahalakshmi and Princess Street. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to take up repair work starting from November-end.

Speaking to dna, SO Kori, chief engineer (bridges), BMC, said, "We will be taking up maintenance work of three bridges once we get clearance from Mumbai traffic police." The civic officials have started doing paperwork so that the proposal can be submitted to the traffic police officers. Depending upon the traffic management plan prepared and approved, the work will commence.

"Due to Diwali holidays, the labourers who know the specific work to repair expansion joints of bridges were unavailable; they are expected to arrive in a couple of days," said Kori.
It is not yet certain if repair work on all the three crucial bridges of south Mumbai will be undertaken at one go, but civic officials are of the opinion that they may take one bridge at a time and most importantly will try not to shut the entire bridge like they did with Gloria Church flyover at Byculla.

"Only two lanes are there on the Byculla bridge, whereas Kemps Corner and Mahalakshmi bridges are wider. It is possible to work on half the portion and allow traffic to move on the rest of the lanes. This will mean least inconvenience for the motorists," added Kori.

In May this year, the civic body had undertaken repair work of the 30-year-old Gloria Church flyover at Byculla, wherein the elevated structure was kept out of bounds for public for ten days starting from May 2.