In the upcoming weeks, commuters travelling through Parel in downtown Mumbai may expect heavy traffic since the 125-year-old Elphinstone Road Over Bridge will be demolished by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The final week of February is when the demolition is anticipated to start.
The British-era bridge, a major east-west connector over railway tracks at Prabhadevi and Parel stations, is being destroyed to accommodate the Sewri-Worli Connector building and improve its height and width. Once both projects are finished, a double-decker bridge over the railway tracks will be built, making it Mumbai’s second such structure after the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road.
Between the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), a signal-free path will be made possible by the 4.5-kilometer Sewri-Worli Connector. The 27-meter-high link will straddle the monorail corridor, the Parel overpass on the Eastern Express Highway, the Elphinstone flyover on Senapati Bapat Marg, the railway lines at Sewri, Parel, and Prabhadevi, and other heavily populated neighbourhoods of central Mumbai.
Atal Setu’s 15% vehicle traffic is expected to use the new connector, according to authorities. The existing 40–60 minute drive from Sewri to Worli will be cut to less than 10 minutes once it is finished. By early 2026, the four-lane road with two lanes on each side should be finished.
According to Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, the connector’s construction is going well. He stated that MMRDA and the Mumbai Traffic Police met recently to discuss the project and had previously discussed it in December. MMRDA had requested permission to close the Elphinstone Bridge, according to Mumbai Traffic Police Joint Commissioner Anil Kumbhare. He said a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the closure would be issued shortly by the traffic department.
However, as the tender process has not yet begun, there is still ambiguity about the timing of the Elphinstone bridge’s demolition and restoration. The Delisle Road bridge, which crosses the Lower Parel railway station, was destroyed, rebuilt, and reopened over five years (2018-2023).
The demolition is expected to impact operations at Prabhadevi station, as two of its exits are located on the bridge. A Western Railway official indicated that the booking offices would be relocated within the station premises and that minor train operation disruptions might occur. Traffic blocks will be arranged as required during the demolition and reconstruction phases.
The impending demolition of the Elphinstone Road Over Bridge marks a significant phase in Mumbai’s infrastructure development, paving the way for the Sewri-Worli Connector. As Mumbai progresses with this crucial infrastructure development, the city’s residents and commuters must prepare for temporary disruptions. Authorities are striving to minimise inconvenience while ensuring the successful execution of long-term mobility solutions.
Source: Prop News Time
