Mumbai’s historic Elphinstone bridge to vanish before the weekend, making way for a new modern double-decker which is almost ready aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity
Pre-assembled sections of Elphinstone double-decker bridge at a Noida facility, to be transported to Mumbai for installation. Pic/Saurabh Pundir
The last remaining portion of more than a century-old Elphinstone bridge is set to be demolished, even as its replacement double-decker bridge nears readiness. The biggest challenge in dismantling the structure was preserving the overhead electric wires, which had been attached to the bridge for over a century. While the Western Railway section has already been removed, the Central Railway is now planning a block to complete the demolition. The entire old bridge is expected to be gone before the weekend.
How were bridge, OHE separated?
In a planned overnight operation, CR began removing the final panels of the Elphinstone Road ROB above the busy Parel-Currey Road section, while keeping the 25 kV overhead equipment stable using temporary support systems.
Ongoing work on dismantling the old Elphinstone bridge, as engineers prepare for complete removal. Pic/Ashish Raje
During scheduled midnight blocks between Byculla and Dadar, engineers first isolated and secured the OHE before shifting its load onto specially erected portal structures. This allowed crews to dismantle the bridge sections beneath the suspended wires without disturbing their alignment or tension.
It will have two levels
>> The lower deck will handle east-west local traffic, with two lanes in each direction and pedestrian footpaths.
>> The upper deck will form part of the Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector, linking to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and upcoming coastal and eastern freeway corridors.
The section over the railway tracks will use open-web steel girders to allow wider spans and minimise disruption to train operations.
Once complete, the bridge is expected to ease congestion in the Parel-Prabhadevi belt and provide a seamless east-west road link across one of Mumbai’s busiest rail corridors.
Built like Lego
The double-decker segments have been pre-assembled at a contractor’s facility in Noida. They will be dismantled, transported to Mumbai, and reassembled on site like giant modular blocks.
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