Suburban rail commuters in Mumbai may face disruptions over the coming weekends as the Central Railway prepares to undertake a series of night blocks to complete the final phase of dismantling the Elphinstone Bridge.
The planned blocks, ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 hours, will begin this week and are expected to continue over multiple nights. During these operations, a complete shutdown of all four main suburban lines is likely for about an hour each time, with partial disruptions for the remaining duration of the block.
The dismantling work is being jointly executed by Central Railway and the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation. The task involves removing six remaining structural panels along with two large 37-metre girders positioned above active railway tracks, making it a technically complex operation.
Officials have scheduled five night blocks of approximately 4.5 hours each, primarily between the last train of the day and the first train the following morning, in an effort to minimise inconvenience to daily commuters. Despite this, a complete halt across all lines for a short duration during each block is unavoidable due to safety requirements.
Authorities aim to complete the dismantling process by this weekend, although timelines could extend into the following week depending on progress and operational conditions.
Passengers are advised to plan their travel in advance and stay updated on schedule changes, as even short-duration shutdowns can impact early morning and late-night services on Mumbai’s heavily used suburban rail network.
The mega block is a crucial step in advancing infrastructure upgrades, but it is expected to temporarily affect the city’s lifeline during execution.
Source: The Indian Express
