Tilak bridge, the century-old lifeline, seems to be buckling under pressure as work on replacement limps painfully ahead; Hawkers, meanwhile, have encroached upon every available space around the structure, leaving footpaths blocked and forcing pedestrians to walk on busy roads alongside speeding vehicles
A digital hoarding near Tilak bridge that used to display a futuristic version of the bridge but has been dysfunctional for the past few days
The century-old Tilak bridge, a crucial east-west connector in Dadar, is under immense strain. While a flashy LED display at the bridge promises a futuristic new structure, the existing connector is unsafe for pedestrians, perpetually gridlocked, and overwhelmed by construction activity. Hawkers, meanwhile, have encroached upon every available space around the structure, leaving footpaths blocked and forcing pedestrians to walk on busy roads alongside speeding vehicles.
Now, with the Elphinstone bridge set to be demolished, the entire load of east-west connectivity in this densely packed part of Mumbai will fall on Tilak bridge alone. “This is a ticking time bomb,” said Chetan Kamble of Chakachak Dadar. “If Phase 1 of the new bridge isn’t ready by April 2026, we’ll be staring at total traffic paralysis. What we need isn’t just concrete and steel, it’s public accountability. We need clear timelines, proper traffic management, and protection for local businesses and commuters.”
Why a new bridge?
Built in 1925, Tilak bridge has outlived its lifespan. An Indian Institute of Technology Bombay audit listed it among Mumbai’s most dilapidated bridges, recommending immediate replacement. Construction of a new bridge began in late 2022 and is being jointly undertaken by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC or MahaRail) and the BMC.
Digital hoarding near Tilak bridge that used to display a PowerPoint rendering of the new six-lane cable-stayed bridge, but has not been functional for the past few days. Pic/Ashish Raje
Simultaneous work
Unlike other bridge projects, Tilak bridge hasn’t been shut for traffic. Instead, the new structure is being built alongside the old one to maintain vehicular movement throughout construction. “Based on past experiences where total bridge closures led to massive jams, we’re constructing the new bridge in two phases,” said an official.
Two-phase plan
Phase 1: Build a new bridge adjacent to the old one without disrupting current traffic.
Phase 2: Shift traffic to the new bridge, demolish the old one, and complete construction of the other side. The new bridge will be a modern cable-stayed structure, 663 metres long and 16.7 metres wide, with cable spans of 190 metres. It will have four lanes and a height of 16.7 metres, significantly taller than the existing 4.5-metre-high bridge. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 375 crore.
Progress and challenges
As of now, about 50 per cent of Phase 1 has been completed. Work is progressing steadily at the Dadar end, where land has already been cleared. But challenges remain. “Construction in such a tightly packed, cluttered area is tough,” said a senior official. “We’re still negotiating with local residents over land requirements. It’s a balancing act, adjusting the design while ensuring we don’t shut the bridge and paralyse the city.”
While the construction of Phase 1 of the century-old Tilak Bridge is in progress, the project is causing significant inconvenience, particularly to pedestrians trying to cross from Dadar West to East. Barriers meant to protect people from ongoing work have been placed at the entry point of the bridge near Plaza Cinema on the west side. However, these barriers now extend from the footpath onto the road, narrowing the bridge’s entryway. This is the only access route for pedestrians, who now have to walk along the road, squeezed between traffic and the barriers, to reach the bridge’s elevated footpath.
Chandrakant Balkrishna Thoravada, a traffic warden stationed in the area, told mid-day, “Though the bridge is being constructed for the public’s convenience and smoother traffic flow, right now it’s causing inconvenience for pedestrians. We see many people walking along the barriers to get onto the footpath, and they have to stick very close to them to stay safe. During the rains, they carry umbrellas, which makes it hard to see who’s approaching from behind. We sometimes have to stand there ourselves to ensure no accidents occur.”
An encroached footpath of the bridge compels pedestrians to walk on the road. Pics/Ashish Raje
The path, barely a foot wide, has multiple rocks scattered in the middle, forcing pedestrians to step over or around them. These obstructions have caused several people to stumble. “This is my daily route. Though I’m familiar with the obstacles, I nearly fell the other day because of a rock in the middle of the path. I had an umbrella in one hand and groceries in the other,” said a nearby resident, requesting anonymity. “The authorities need to seriously remove these rocks. They serve no purpose in the middle of the walkway.”
Another issue arises when pedestrians walking from east to west end up on the wrong side of the road's flow. When they reach the entry point near Plaza Cinema, they’re forced to share the narrow stretch beside the barriers with people coming from the opposite direction. “If too many people come from both sides at once, it’s hard to figure out who walks near the barrier and who must step onto the road, right into oncoming traffic. Sometimes we have to suddenly veer onto the road just to avoid bumping into someone, which causes bikers to wobble,” said Shreya Valmiki, a pedestrian.
Motorists crossing from West to East are also facing challenges. Rajendra Meena, who crosses the Tilak bridge on his two-wheeler multiple times a week, told mid-day, “It’s convenient for me to ride, but ever since the barriers extended onto the road, things have become riskier. I ride on the left, and I now have to be extra cautious to avoid pedestrians walking on the road. Many times, I’ve nearly hit someone who suddenly stepped out to dodge others.”
Rajendra Meena, commuter and Chandrakant Balkrishna Thoravada, a traffic warden
Authorities had installed a digital LED board meant to display the development plan and the final look of the bridge after Phase 2. However, the display hasn’t been working for the past few days. “The LED stopped working after the rains started again,” said traffic warden Thoravada. “We think a rat may have chewed through the wires, but we don’t know the exact reason it’s shut off.” The deadline for Phase 1 remains April 2026.
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