Over a year has passed since the Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai, which had stood for 112 years, was lost, and its replacement is still several months away from completion. The railway segment of the new structure is now projected to be finished by November, with the entire bridge expected to be opened to traffic no sooner than January or February 2027. A significant challenge ahead involves the installation of four steel spans over the railway tracks, necessitating a minimum of 39 railway blocks over a span of 25 days.
The reconstruction effort is part of the larger project to create a double-decker connector between the Elphinstone bridge, Sewri, and Worli. Initially, this project was anticipated to move more rapidly. MahaRail, the organization responsible for the railway aspect, is currently assembling the spans on-site and aims to start their installation by the end of September, depending on weather conditions.
All four spans were delivered to Mumbai on August 15 and consist of two longer structures measuring 92.5 meters and two shorter ones at 34.5 meters. The longer spans are designed to support two carriageways over the railway tracks at Prabhadevi and Parel, while the shorter spans will accommodate future railway lines.
Out of the 39 railway blocks needed, 32 are designated for the span launch and seven for preparatory activities. Officials indicated that the majority of these blocks will occur at night, providing workers approximately 2.5 hours between the last and first trains. A MahaRail official mentioned, “Regardless of any delays caused by rain or later trains during the festival season, we will continue working to ensure progress is made.”
The launch plan has been submitted to both Central and Western Railway and is currently awaiting necessary approvals.
MahaRail has established November as the target date for completing its responsibilities. Following this, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will finalize the approach roads and link both railway and non-railway sections, a process that is expected to extend into January or February.
The revamped structure will feature local traffic on the lower deck, while the upper deck will be integrated into the 4.5-kilometer Sewri-Worli connector, connecting the Worli end of the Coastal Road with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
Sabah Virani, a journalist at The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, specializes in infrastructure, housing, and urban issues, highlighting both technical aspects and the human stories behind the changes in the city.
Her expertise encompasses monitoring the progress of various infrastructure projects within Mumbai and its metropolitan area, including bridges and metro systems. Sabah closely follows the activities of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and other key agencies, reporting on significant developments in housing and environmental matters as well.
Before her tenure at The Indian Express, Sabah reported on municipal and civic issues for Hindustan Times and covered Mumbai-centric topics for Citizen Matters. She also has experience as an editorial assistant at FiftyTwo.in.
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