Finally, decks cleared for Delisle bridge demolition

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) finally evacuated and demolished the 172 stalls, structures of Damodar Khamkar market in Lower Parel Friday.

The market stood in the way of demolition of the Delisle bridge at Lower Parel as stall owners were unwilling to shift to the alternative shops allotted nearby. As a result, demolition had stopped in its tracks.

“However, the BMC has now removed all structures in the way of the bridge and the railway authority has started demolition from Saturday,” informed assistant municipal commissioner, Devendra Jain.

The Delisle bridge outside Lower Parel station is located in the heart of the city and is a crucial connection between Parel and Byculla.

The 98-year-old bridge had already been shut to traffic last July after the IIT Bombay, in its report, termed the bridge as dilapidated. Thereafter, the authorities decided to shut the bridge to vehicular and pedestrian traffic and later demolish it. The WR had been gradually dismantling the bridge since August 20 last year. A part of it was dismantled in February 2019 but further demolition had stopped as the Damodar Khamkar market stalls were left to be shifted.

Demolishing this road overbridge (ROB) is a challenge as it curves 64 degrees over the tracks. The engineers are unsure which parts bear the maximum load and hence, it has to be dealt with carefully. Office-goers have especially been affected since its shutdown. However, pedestrians have been allowed to use the bridge partly to ease congestion on the road below.

The authorities claim that a new bridge will come up in the place of Delisle bridge in the next 10 months or so. Approximately, 1,200 vehicles used to cross this bridge every hour during peak hours.