Mumbai's 125-year-old Elphinstone bridge to be demolished; traffic woes expected
What's the story
The iconic Elphinstone Road Over Bridge in Mumbai, a 125-year-old British-era structure, will be demolished to pave the way for a new double-decker bridge. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) intends to start the demolition in the last week of February 2025. The project is part of the larger Sewri-Worli Connector project to ease traffic in central Mumbai.
Traffic impact
Demolition to cause severe traffic congestion
The closure of this vital link between Parel and Prabhadevi is likely to lead to massive traffic snarls. Commuters will be diverted to already congested routes like Tilak Bridge (Dadar) and Currey Road Bridge. The reconstruction work will take at least two years and major disruptions are expected during peak hours.
Infrastructure upgrade
New bridge to enhance connectivity in Mumbai
The new double-decker bridge will be Mumbai's second such bridge after the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. It will improve connectivity between Senapati Bapat Road and Dr BR Ambedkar Road. An additional arm of the bridge will offer direct access to the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) at Sewri and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
Travel reduction
Sewri-Worli Connector to reduce travel time significantly
Once completed, the Sewri-Worli Connector is expected to cut down travel time from Sewri to Worli from 40-60 minutes to under 10 minutes. The connector will have four lanes, two on either side, and will be 27 meters high, passing over several key infrastructures such as railway tracks and existing flyovers.
Project challenges
Demolition delays and impact on Prabhadevi station
The MMRDA had first thought of an underground corridor under the Parel-Prabhadevi railway tracks but chose an elevated structure. The reconstruction was delayed due to alignment issues with existing buildings, but changes have brought down the number of affected structures from 19 to two. The demolition will also affect Prabhadevi station's operations, which has exits on the bridge. Western Railway officials plan to shift booking offices and provide necessary traffic blocks during construction phases.