MUMBAI: Western Railway on Thursday finally announced it was awarding a Rs86.52 crore contract to a joint venture firm for reconstructing the Delisle Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Lower Parel within 10 months The ROB’s closure inconvenienced thousands of office-goers, motorists and pedestrians, and with the bridge now expected to come up in 10 months, this could bring huge relief to them.The ROB was demolished on the night of February 2 by carrying out an 11-hour mega block on WR wherein more than 100 staffers pulled down the 98-year-old dilapidated bridge. Sources said questions were being raised about its reconstruction and there were possibilities of delays. However, senior WR officials put speculation to rest by finalising the reconstruction contract on Thursday.It is learnt the project is also being expedited and its fresh announcement comes ahead of the poll code of conduct, which is likely to kick in soon.The letter of acceptance (LOA) for rebuilding the bridge was issued to Saidutt-Dynamic-Sobti JV firm on Thursday, and work is likely to begin soon.WR chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar confirmed the vendor has been appointed. “It will be a single span six-lane ROB with footpaths on either side, spanning across five railway tracks and with provision for a sixth line,” he said, adding the height of the new ROB will be 5.8m as against the old one’s 4.9m.The foundation will have stainless steel reinforcement, and the superstructure of the bridge will have high-grade structural steel, an official said, adding there will be four main girders. The ROB alignment will be kept the same as in the old bridge, with a skew angle of 64 degrees. The span of ROB will be 85m with provision for accommodating the sixth line. The completion period is 10 months, as mentioned in the contract.The demolition of the old bridge was a mammoth task, an official said. Work of dismantling the approach road on the east side of the ROB is in progress for construction of abutment/foundation. Work on the west side will be taken up after relocation of shops and houses by BMC, the official stated.Bhakar said, “The ROB work over the railway tracks is being undertaken by the WR, while the approach road will be constructed by BMC.”The bridge, constructed in 1921, was first shut to traffic and pedestrians on July 24, 2018 following a joint safety audit undertaken by BMC, railways and IIT Bombay in the aftermath of the collapse of a portion of Andheri’s Gokhale ROB on July 3.

Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.