Metro’s bird-cage bridge work set to be over in a month

Pending work on Mumbai Metro’s giant bird-cage bridge that passes over Western Railway’s suburban lines has finally begun and should be complete in a month’s time. The work was stuck as few structures of a mosque near Andheri station were coming in the way of the proposed Metro rail path.

“Partial demolition of one of the mosque’s minarets was necessary to ensure that the bridge could be constructed over it. The bridge was delayed by more than two years pending various approvals. After negotiations we have got clearances from the mosque authorities and work has now begun,” a site engineer told DNA, on the condition of anonymity.

“The completion of this work would enable Mumbai Metro engineers to undertake the subsequent work of laying the deck slab, tracks, signalling and telecom equipment. This was the only impediment in the construction of the 183-metre steel bridge. Construction of 122 metres is already completed. Now that the work has resumed, we are confident of completing it within a month,” said a Mumbai Metro spokesperson. The first corridor of the Mumbai Metro passes through the most crowded roads of Andheri and Ghatkopar. Only after the bridge is laid, the complete pathway would be ready, after which tracks and overhead wire structures would be laid.