August 14, 2025: Mumbai’s civic administration has urged the Western Railway to postpone the planned demolition and reconstruction of the Field Marshal General Cariappa Road Overbridge (ROB) in Borivli, citing the risk of severe traffic disruption. Built in 1993, the bridge serves as the only road link between Borivli East and West, making it a vital commuting artery for thousands of residents.
Western Railway has proposed dismantling and rebuilding the Rs 87-crore structure in October 2025, stating that its codal life is nearing completion. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) maintains that the bridge’s pre-stressed concrete design gives it at least eight more years of functional life, and that repairs and strengthening could keep it operational for several more years.
The BMC’s appeal comes amid two major infrastructure works already straining traffic in the area — the Kora Kendra Phase II flyover and the Thane–Borivli twin tunnel project. Both have led to extensive diversions and longer commute times. Civic engineers warn that removing the ROB now would exacerbate congestion, affecting daily commuters and freight movement.
Instead, the corporation has recommended a detailed structural audit to determine the scope of repairs required to extend the bridge’s life by three to four years. This, they argue, would allow the ROB to remain in service until nearby projects are complete, ensuring a smoother transition to eventual reconstruction.
Urban transport experts caution that sudden removal of key connectors in dense corridors can increase vehicle idling, emissions, fuel wastage, and commercial delays. Coordinating timelines between agencies, they say, is essential to balance public safety with traffic management and sustainability.
Western Railway has acknowledged the BMC’s request and is in talks to explore postponement. The decision could set a precedent for infrastructure planning in congested cities, where sequencing is key to keeping mobility intact.
Source: Urban Acres
