The reopening of Mumbai’s Elphinstone Bridge has been pushed further, with the railway portion of the replacement structure now targeted for completion by November 2026 and the full bridge likely to open to traffic only by January or February 2027, a year after the 112-year-old bridge was closed.
The reconstruction is being undertaken as part of the double-decker Elphinstone Bridge-Sewri-Worli Connector project. MahaRail is responsible for the portion crossing the railway tracks, while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will complete the remaining approach and connecting works.
A major challenge ahead is the installation of four steel spans over the railway lines. MahaRail plans to begin launching the structures by the end of September, subject to weather conditions and necessary railway approvals.
All four spans arrived in Mumbai on August 15. They include two structures measuring 92.5 metres each and two shorter spans of 34.5 metres. The longer spans will carry the two road carriageways across the railway tracks at Prabhadevi and Parel, while the shorter structures will accommodate future railway requirements.
The erection process will require 39 railway blocks spread across 25 days. Of these, 32 blocks will be used directly for launching the steel spans, while seven will be required for preparatory activities. Most of the blocks are expected to be provided during night hours, allowing around 2.5 hours between the last and first trains.
“Even if for whatever reason, due to the rains or later trains due to the festival season, we get shorter railway blocks, we will continue the work so that there is some progress,” a MahaRail official said.
The detailed launching plan has been submitted to both Central Railway and Western Railway and is awaiting final approvals.
MahaRail has set November as the target to finish its part of the project. Following this, MMRDA will undertake the remaining approach-road work and integrate the railway and non-railway sections, with the overall process expected to continue into January-February 2027.
The new double-decker structure will carry local traffic on its lower deck, while the upper deck will form part of the 4.5-km Sewri-Worli Connector, linking the Worli end of the Coastal Road with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
Source: The Indian Express
