January 24, 2026: Four months after the Elphinstone Bridge was closed to traffic, Indian Railways and the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) are yet to finalise the megablock schedule required to demolish the section spanning active railway tracks.
The long weekend from January 24 to 26 had been identified as a tentative window for the operation. However, the plan did not materialise due to differences over the duration of the block needed to complete the work, officials familiar with the matter said.
Sources in Central Railway (CR) said MRIDC, a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Ministry of Railways, has sought a continuous 14-hour block to carry out the demolition in a single phase. The proposal was forwarded to CR’s Mumbai Division and headquarters, where it is still under review.
“The file is lying with the headquarters, who are still going through the proposal,” said a CR official. “MRIDC has asked for a continuous block of 14 hours, which will have a severe impact on passenger movement. We had asked MRIDC to reduce this block time or carry it out in phases.” Officials estimate such a block would lead to the cancellation of around 300 to 400 suburban services and 20 to 25 long-distance trains, along with delays and short termination of southbound services at Dadar or earlier.
Railway officials said the recently concluded long weekend was considered suitable for the block, and similar windows are unlikely in the near term as upcoming public holidays fall on weekdays. As a result, the demolition may now be pushed to a regular weekend.
Since the British-era bridge was shut in early September, MRIDC has been dismantling it in stages, beginning with approach ramps and footpaths. Engineers said the asphalt and steel layers on the central span have also been removed. The remaining structure above the tracks can only be taken down during megablocks.
“Blocks in both Central Railway and Western Railway are happening daily at night,” Rajesh Jaiswal, managing director, MRIDC, told HT via a text message. He did not comment further on the delay.
The bridge, which connected Parel and Prabhadevi, is being removed for the Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor. Although the corridor’s deadline is December 2026, the Rs 167-crore project has faced repeated delays linked to approvals and coordination issues between agencies.
Source: Hindustan Times
