05 April,2026 12:11 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
The demolition work at the bridge. Pic/Special Arrangement
The old Elphinstone bridge connecting Parel and Prabhadevi in central Mumbai was completely demolished early on Sunday morning as part of the ongoing removal work of the structure, officials said, adding that the bridge was fully removed by 7:14 am.
According to the officials, to carry out the demolition safely, a block was imposed on suburban railway lines. The removal block on the UP and DOWN slow lines was cleared at 7:06 am, while the UP and DOWN fast lines were restored at 7:14 am.
The demolition and restoration of services were completed in a coordinated manner, ensuring minimal disruption to commuters during the early hours, officials said.
Railway officials stated that all lines are now fully operational. Suburban train services have resumed as per the regular Sunday timetable.
Following its demolition, construction of the new double-deck bridge will soon begin.
The project is expected to be completed by 2027. It will feature two decks with 2+2 lanes each, linking the Western suburbs to the Sea Link, Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link), and Eastern Express corridors.
The 112-year-old bridge has been a vital east-west connector across Mumbai's railway corridor, linking the former mill hub of Parel with the residential and commercial zones of Prabhadevi.
It was originally commissioned by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) in 1905 and completed in 1913. However, decades of heavy traffic, structural wear, and urban expansion have taken a toll. Its removal is part of a larger project to construct a new double-deck road overbridge and elevated connector that will drastically improve the east-west link in central Mumbai.
Earlier, the Central Railway had on Wednesday announced special traffic and power blocks to facilitate the dismantling of panels of the Elphinstone Road Over Bridge (ROB).
The dismantling work by the authorities was being carried out between Parel railway station and Currey Road railway station.
As per the official statement, the blocks were carried out over two consecutive nights, April 2/3 and April 3/4, primarily during midnight hours to minimise disruption to suburban services.
The block was implemented on the section between Byculla railway station (excluding crossovers) and Dadar railway station (excluding platforms).
Midnight on April 3 (Thursday/Friday), services on the Up slow line and both UP and DOWN fast lines were affected from 12:30 am to 4:30 am.
On the following night, April 3/4 (Friday/Saturday), the block was imposed on the UP Fast line during the same time window.
Due to the block, several long-distance trains were diverted.
Officials had said that train number 11020 Konark Express was being diverted between Matunga and Byculla on both nights and will halt twice at Dadar station.
Additionally, on the night of April 3/4, 12810 Howrah-CSMT Mail and 12134 Mangaluru-CSMT Express was diverted on the same route with a double halt at Dadar.
Central Railway had also urged the commuters to plan their journeys accordingly during the period.
