The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has successfully installed the second girder of the Vidyavihar Railway Over-Bridge (ROB) in Mumbai, with each girder weighing 1,100 metric tonnes and measuring 100 meters in length and 9.5 meters in width. This marks a critical step in a project aimed at easing traffic congestion between Ghatkopar and Vidyavihar in the eastern suburbs while providing direct connectivity between Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg and Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg. The completion of both girders, among the longest in India without pillars for support, brings the project closer to its goal of full operation by December 2024, with an estimated cost of Rs 178 crore.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has achieved a significant milestone by installing the second massive girder of the Vidyavihar Railway Over-Bridge (ROB) in Mumbai. This second girder, weighing 1,100 metric tonnes, measures 100 meters in length and 9.5 meters in width, and it was successfully launched using the winch pulling technique.
The BMC announced a mega block in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday for completing this complex task. The first girder was launched on May 27 as part of this intricate project. Both girders are among the longest in India and notably lack pillars for support. The lack of enough space between the railway tracks necessitated such a design.
The Vidyavihar ROB project, pegged at a cost of Rs 178 crore, aims to connect the Ramkrishna Chemburkar Road and LBS Road on the west side. Approximately 90% of the work under the railway's jurisdiction has been completed, and it is expected that the bridge will be operational by December 2024. The total length of the ROB is 630 meters, with 100 meters under the railway, 220 meters on the east side, and the remaining 310 meters on the west side of Vidyavihar.
This ambitious project was conceptualized in 2016, with the work order issued on May 2, 2018. Although the initial goal was to complete the project in 2022, planning adjustments were suggested by the railway.
The successful installation of both girders, each spanning nearly 100 meters, marks a substantial step forward in a project designed to alleviate traffic congestion and provide improved connectivity between Ghatkopar and Vidyavihar in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai. Moreover, it will offer direct access to Vidyavihar railway platforms and support other infrastructure enhancements, such as a railway ticket window, a station master's office, and a service road.
Challenges for the BMC going further include increasing the width of the stormwater drain, shifting railway ticket windows, and addressing encroachment issues as part of the ROB's construction.
The completion of both girders is expected to expedite the next phase of the project, which involves constructing 17.50-meter-wide approach roads on both sides of the bridge. With an aim to conclude the entire project by December 2024, the BMC has its task cut out. The Vidyavihar ROB will become a vital east-west connector and significantly enhance commuting in the area.
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