Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has rolled out a plan to reconstruct the Irla Nullah Bridge under the Juhu-Vile Parle Development (JVPD) Junction. The existing bridge will be demolished as it has been declared unsound. The project cost is estimated to be Rs 11.15 crores and may take approximately 15 months to complete.
In 2022, the inspection of the bridges was conducted in the western suburb by a structural auditor ASG M/s Consultancy, appointed by the BMC. It was revealed in the report of the consultancy that the bridge which connects Moragaon and the Irla pumping station, situated near the Juhu-Vile Parle Development (JVPD) scheme, is in a perishable condition. The consultancy recommended the civic body to construct a new bridge in place of the existing one to ensure the safety of people.
Steel supporting the bridge has corroded
As per a report published by Free Press Journal, a civic source said, “The old bridge is made through stone construction. Two water pipes are present on both sides of the footpath measuring 900 mm and 300 mm. The steel which supports the bridge has become weak due to corrosion. The protective wall has damaged in many parts and the western side of the bridge has drooped over time.”
Samruddhi Enterprises gets tender
The BMC received responses from four bidders for reconstruction of the bridge after it kept the estimated price at Rs 10.31 crore and invited the tenders. The M/s Samruddhi Enterprises secured the contract after submitting the bid at 15 per cent below the estimated cost for constructing the bridge.
The government gave administrative approval to the proposal before the implementation of model code of conduct ahead of state assembly election. Including all taxes the total cost of the project will reach Rs 11.15 crore. The lenght of the bridge is 23 meters and is 18.3 metres wide. Reinforced concrete (RCC) piles foundation support the piles.
