Gokhale Bridge: BEST buses to be back in seven days

The Gokhale bridge, which had been closed for almost three years, in Andheri. Pic/Ashish Raje

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) administration has decided to resume bus services on Andheri's Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in the next seven days.

On May 11, this newspaper highlighted the demands of residents for the restoration of bus services that had been diverted after the crucial east-west connector was closed in November 2022. After the bridge was thrown open for vehicular traffic on May 11, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) immediately removed height barriers the next day.

"We have decided to restore old bus routes via Gokhale bridge in the next seven days," the BEST spokesperson told mid-day.

Meanwhile, a BJP leader and former corporator from Vile Parle, Abhijit Samant, wrote a letter to the BEST administration seeking that old bus routes be restored.

Route No. A180 used to run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Malwani via Gokhale bridge. Other such routes are 225 (Bandra Depot to Dindoshi depot), A290 (Marol Maroshi to Gorai depot), A359 (Hiranandani, Powai to Malwani), A422 (Bandra to Vikhroli depot). All buses that used to ply these routes now take a diversion via Jogeshwari bridge.

Routes 225, 336 and 328 were shut due to the closure of the Gokhale bridge, while route A422 has been diverted to the Milan subway.

Dhaval Shah, founder of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen's Association, demanded the restoration of BEST bus services.

Sweeta Choithramani, an HR professional, said, I will be taking the 424 route to travel to the east. This will prove economical as travelling via autorickshaws is too expensive these days. I'm happy that services are restarting."

"BEST bus services starting after such a long wait is great news for commuters like me. These buses are a blessing for a large number of residents," said Rajan Mehrotra.

May 11
Day Gokhale bridge was opened