Rebuilt Bellasis bridge still fails to account for pedestrian connectivity; the bridge has been rebuilt in a record time of 15 months and six days, well ahead of the scheduled deadline
The reconstructed Bellasis flyover, connecting Tardeo, Nagpada, and Mumbai Central, is ready to be opened after being completed in record time. Pics/By Special Arrangement
With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announcing the completion of the Bellasis flyover, commuters have now raised a key question: will the old railway foot overbridge connection to the Bellasis bridge be restored?
On Tuesday, the BMC confirmed that the reconstruction of the Bellasis flyover, which connects Tardeo, Nagpada, and Mumbai Central, has been completed and will soon be opened to the public. The bridge has been rebuilt in a record time of 15 months and six days, well ahead of the scheduled deadline.
However, the new bridge has been constructed at a higher elevation than the old one, leading to changes in the alignment of the existing railway foot overbridge. This has prompted concerns among daily commuters who depend on the direct connection between the railway building and the bridge. Western Railway (WR) officials said work to restore the pedestrian link is underway.
“Construction work is in progress, and the connection from the railway building to the new Bellasis bridge will be restored. A staircase is being built to connect the foot overbridge to the road level, which is now at a higher elevation. The facility will be opened soon,” a WR official said.
BMC and Western Railway officials during a joint inspection of the completed flyover at Mumbai Central on January 20
The Bellasis flyover, originally constructed during the British era nearly 130 years ago, had been declared unsafe following structural assessments. The BMC subsequently undertook its demolition and complete reconstruction as part of its infrastructure upgrade programme aimed at reducing travel time and improving road quality across the city.
Officials said the project posed several challenges, including the relocation of BEST buses, removal of 13 obstructing structures with rehabilitation of affected residents, demolition of a boundary wall of a nearby housing society, and legal proceedings in the Bombay High Court.
The reconstructed flyover has a total length of 333 metres, with 138.39 metres on the eastern side, 157.39 metres on the western side, and 36.90 metres falling within railway limits. The carriageway is seven metres wide and includes adequately sized footpaths on both sides.
“A joint inspection was conducted with BMC officials on January 20 at the Bellasis Bridge, Mumbai Central. The reconstruction of the road overbridge has been completed in all respects and is ready for the opening of vehicular traffic. The railway portion has been rebuilt by Western Railway, while the eastern and western approaches were constructed by the BMC,” a WR official said.
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