July 5, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated work on the ambitious redevelopment of the historic Mahim Causeway bridge, aiming to transform it into a 10-lane double-arch structure. Once completed, the new bridge will significantly reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the western suburbs, easing congestion on major arterial roads and improving daily commutes for lakhs of citizens.
Dating back to the 1840s, the Mahim Causeway currently links S V Road in Bandra to Mahim and South Mumbai. However, its aging six-lane structure is unable to handle today’s traffic volume, resulting in frequent bottlenecks. The BMC is now widening the bridge from 44.1 to 52 metres and extending its length to 104 metres. The ₹103.26 crore project is being carried out in two phases over two years to maintain traffic flow. In the first phase, two new bridges are being built on either side of the existing one. Once operational, traffic will be diverted, and the old bridge will be dismantled to make way for phase two.
The redesigned bridge will feature five lanes in each direction and a double-arch deck slab for enhanced strength and flood resilience, important feature given Mumbai’s vulnerability to monsoon flooding. So far, three of the four abutments are complete, and girder fabrication has begun on the eastern end.
The project faced initial delays due to environmental clearances, as the alignment crosses protected mangroves along the Mithi River. These permissions were granted in January 2024, allowing full-scale work to begin.
While praised for its phased approach and long-term benefits, experts and citizen groups are urging the BMC to include pedestrian and cycling paths and to ensure greater transparency through regular progress reports. Once completed, the bridge will stand as a model of sustainable, inclusive urban infrastructure.
Source: Urban Acres
