Reconstruction of six-lane Patripool bridge commences

Mumbai: The reconstruction of Kalyan’s Patripool rail overbridge, which was dismantled in August last year, has started. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has altered the basic design of the structure, which will now have six lanes to prevent traffic from being held up.

The new bridge is likely to be opened to the public by February 2020, as its reconstruction has become a highly politicised issue.

According to the MSRDC, two mega blocks of five hours each are likely to be operated on the Central line in December to carry out construction activities.

Work on the bridge was earlier delayed owing to clearances from the Central railway (CR) and slowed down during monsoons.

The 104-year-old Patripool bridge, which connects Kalyan to Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Badlapur, Thane, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai, was dismantled by the CR in November last year.

Since then, vehicles have been plying on the parallel bridge, leading to massive congestion on the bridge and the adjoining access roads

According to an earlier plan, it was proposed that a four-lane bridge be built. However, the road below the bridge has six lanes.

Hence, to prevent the flow of traffic from being restricted from either end of the bridge, the MSRDC has decided to add two more lanes and the amount sanctioned for the project has increased from Rs 31 crore to Rs 34 crore.

Last week, MSRDC received a positive nod from the state government for the same. According to the officer, nearly one lakh vehicles are expected to ply on the bridge daily.

The traffic on the Kalyan-Shilphata Road will ease after the construction of the bridge, making road trips to Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai much smoother.

Presently, travellers spend nearly two to three hours to traverse a distance that should take 30 to 40 minutes on an average, during peak hours.