Mumbai | Elphinstone bridge shut, crucial footbridge in limbo: Commuters fear tragedy

JCB machines begin demolition work on the Elphinstone bridge at around 10pm on Friday night. Pics/Ashish Raje

The Central Railway (CR) has failed to complete the much-awaited foot overbridge (FOB) parallel to the Elphinstone Road overbridge - a crucial link that would have allowed commuters and pedestrians to cross from east to west once the road bridge is shut for traffic.

The Western Railway (WR) side of the bridge, located in the west, was opened to the public a few years ago, followed by an extension across all WR lines. However, work on the CR portion, which began last year, remains incomplete. Because of this delay, the extended WR portion has also been rendered useless. At present, the bridge is used only as a passage to enter and exit Prabhadevi station and its WR platforms. The incomplete CR section is the only bridge directly parallel to the Elphinstone Road bridge, and could have offered major relief once the road bridge shuts.

With the road bridge closing, this incomplete foot overbridge remains suspended mid-air

mid-day had first highlighted this issue five months ago, pointing to CR's sluggish pace. Even after half a year, little progress has been made, and the bridge remains incomplete.

Prabhadevi station (formerly Elphinstone) has grim associations: in 2017, a stampede at the base of a FOB claimed 23 lives, earning it the nickname "stampede station."

Commuter voices

"We keep hearing that the work will finish soon. It's frustrating to see such an important project stuck halfway," said Raghav Rajan, a WR commuter.
"When the road bridge shuts, there will be no choice but to fight through the crush at Parel station. It feels like the authorities are waiting for another tragedy before acting. Commuters are tired of detours and barricades. We just need a safe, direct way to cross," said Dwija Kumari, another commuter. "The railways should open this bridge quickly and allow non-ticketed commuters to use it until the road bridge work is complete. Motorists have been given diversions, but pedestrians have been left in the lurch," added Devendra Tandel.

Devendra Tandel, a commuter

2017
Year stampede had occurred at Elphinstone station

23
No. of deaths in stampede in 2017