Western Railway 20 day Mega Block: Starting from November 27 for Launching Girder of Gokhale Bridge!

Western Railway 20 day Mega Block

Western Railway 20 Day Mega Block: In a significant development, the Western Railway (WR) is gearing up for a crucial 20 day mega block, scheduled to commence on November 27. The purpose behind this temporary suspension of train services in Mumbai is to facilitate the launch of a pivotal girder in the ongoing construction of the Gokhale Bridge, connecting SV Road and Western Express Highway at Andheri.

Despite the imminent disruption, specific details regarding the impacted train services remain undisclosed by the Western Railway, according to a report by Times of India. Sumit Thakur, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Western Railway, reassured the public that the blocks would be strategically implemented during the night to minimize the impact on regular train services.

Thakur stated, “We will undertake the blocks during the night so that it has minimal impact on the train services.” This proactive measure is designed to alleviate inconvenience for commuters during this mega block period.

Keep in touch with https://blognewstime.com/ for update about this block, we will keep posted time to time about further developments and timings of disruption of trains.

Gokhale Bridge Transformation: A Significant Milestone

In October, the Western Railway achieved a notable milestone by successfully launching the girder for the north carriageway of the Gokhale Bridge. The focus has now shifted to the launch of the girder for the south carriageway, which is expected to span an impressive 90 meters, making it the second-largest railway bridge in the city.

Each girder for the Gokhale Bridge has been meticulously assembled at the construction site. According to reports from the Times of India, during the launch, the girder, weighing around 1,300 tonnes, will be lifted to a height of 25 meters from the ground level using a specialized crane.

Gokhale Bridge Revitalization: Timeline and Challenges

Originally built in 1975, the Gokhale Bridge, measuring 80 meters in length and 25 meters in width, is undergoing a transformative process. This transformation includes the construction of a new road overbridge, incurring an estimated cost of approximately ₹90 crore.

While the Western Railway endeavors to enhance transportation infrastructure, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set its sights on partially opening the bridge in February 2024. However, this timeline represents a delay from the initial target of November 2023.

The comprehensive process of revitalizing the Gokhale Bridge began in December 2022 with its demolition, which took four months to complete. The bridge’s final girder was dismantled in March of the following year. The decision to dismantle the bridge was prompted by a safety inspection in November 2022, revealing severe distress in elements such as RCC columns, tie beams, girders, deck slabs, and bearings due to corrosion over the years.

The deterioration of the bridge reached a critical point when its pavement collapsed on July 3, 2018, attributed to corrosion and overload. An investigation found that the additional load on the bridge was 44.4% more than its designed capacity. In response to these findings, BMC declared the bridge unsafe and opted for a complete reconstruction.

Parallel Development: Temporary Interruption in Train Services

In a parallel development, Western Railway has announced the cancellation of select trains between Valsad and Dungri on November 23. This brief interruption, lasting two hours from 11:10 AM to 1:10 PM, is necessary for the launch of a girder for a railway overbridge.

We have discussed about this power block in detail in our previous article, you can read it here.. Western Railway Power Block: 2 hrs block between Valsad & Dungri on 23 November, Know All Here..

As Mumbai gears up for the Western Railway 20 day mega block, commuters are encouraged to plan their journeys accordingly, considering the temporary disruption in train services during this crucial phase of the Gokhale Bridge construction. Stay tuned for further updates as the city undergoes this transformative infrastructure project.

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