The scheduled closure of the Elphinstone Road bridge on Friday night was unexpectedly stalled after residents from nearby chawls staged a protest demanding in-situ rehabilitation instead of monetary compensation. The bridge is set to be dismantled to make way for the upcoming Sewri-Worli Connector—an ambitious infrastructure link that will eventually integrate with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
Tensions flared as project-affected people (PAPs) from Haji Noorani Chawl and Lakshmi Nivas Chawl rejected the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) offer of financial compensation based on the government’s Ready Reckoner rates. The affected 83 families—23 from Haji Noorani and 60 from Lakshmi Nivas—insisted on being resettled within the same locality, citing loss of livelihood and community if relocated.
According to the MMRDA, the affected tenements range from compact 100 sq ft homes to larger 1,200 sq ft units. Despite prior notices and traffic diversion plans already drawn up, the MMRDA’s decision to proceed with the bridge closure without a clear rehabilitation strategy sparked strong opposition and created traffic snarls in the area.
The Elphinstone Road over-bridge, a colonial-era structure, is to be dismantled in phases. The removal of approach roads was slated for completion by 30 May, with the main railway-connected portion scheduled for demolition by 10 July. The reconstructed structure, expected to be completed in two years, will be a modern double-decker flyover. It will connect Senapati Bapat Road to BR Ambedkar Road, with an additional arm extending to the MTHL and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, promising seamless connectivity across the city.
This marks the fifth closure of a British-era bridge in Mumbai, following the shutdown of the Sion Road Over Bridge (ROB), Carnac Bridge, Bellasis Bridge, and Reay Road Bridge. While these projects are aimed at enhancing safety and modernising the city’s transport network, they have significantly disrupted traffic flows and raised concerns among citizens regarding timely rehabilitation and alternate routes.
Residents argue that without a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, development cannot be termed equitable. As authorities face increasing pressure to balance infrastructure development with community welfare, the protest serves as a reminder that speed must not come at the cost of humane relocation policies.
Source: TOI
