WR clearance for overbridge base in Andheri

Providing the much-required boost to Mumbai metro’s Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar link, the commissioner of railway safety, on Tuesday, gave clearance to lay the foundation of the metro overbridge in Andheri. The work on the overbridge will begin soon.

Providing the much-required boost to Mumbai metro’s Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar link, the commissioner of railway safety, on Tuesday, gave clearance to lay the foundation of the metro overbridge in Andheri. The work on the overbridge will begin soon.

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Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer, WR, said: “After inspecting the location, the commissioner of railway safety granted the permission. The foundation (sub-structure) of the overbridge will be laid between the tracks towards the northern part of Andheri.”

To be constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the overbridge will be the second – after the Delhi Metro – to come up on the tracks of Indian Railways.

The Western Railway (WR) had signed the agreement for the construction of the overbridge over the railway tracks with the MMRDA in March. The development authority was, however, awaiting the safety clearance from the WR.

The construction of the 20-km Versova Andheri–Ghatkopar is part of the phase one of the project, that has an estimated cost of Rs2,356 crore and an October 2012 deadline.

The overbridge will be made of two 69-meter long and 7-meter high steel girders with two spans. “This is the first time that the WR is allowing a private project to build something on its property,” said a WR official on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Sources from Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) said that the while the commissioner has given a nod to building the foundation and pillars of the overbridge, a separate permission will have to be sought for placing the girders.