Mumbai’s rail and road infrastructure landscape is entering a decisive transition phase as work accelerates on the city’s first double-decker road over bridge at Elphinstone. The project, being executed by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation, is now deep into construction following the dismantling of a century-old structure, marking a rare moment where legacy infrastructure gives way to multi-layered urban mobility.
Located on a critical east–west connector, the Elphinstone bridge rebuild is central to easing chronic congestion in one of Mumbai’s densest commuter belts. Once completed, the double-decker road over bridge will carry local traffic on the lower deck while enabling uninterrupted regional movement on the upper deck as part of the Sewri–Worli Elevated Corridor. For commuters and logistics operators alike, this separation of traffic streams is expected to improve travel reliability and reduce pressure on surrounding arterial roads. Officials associated with the project said demolition of the old bridge is being carried out using high-capacity cranes over live tracks, a technically demanding operation designed to ensure suburban rail services remain unaffected. The alignment spans both Western Railway and Central Railway corridors, making the structure one of the most complex rail-crossing upgrades currently underway in the city.
The new bridge’s design reflects Mumbai’s gradual shift towards vertical expansion of transport infrastructure in land-constrained areas. The lower deck will retain pedestrian access and local vehicular movement, maintaining neighbourhood connectivity. The upper deck, configured exclusively for fast-moving traffic, will plug directly into the elevated corridor linking south Mumbai to the city’s eastern waterfront and onward to the Atal Setu. Urban planners say this integration is crucial for dispersing traffic generated by new economic nodes across the metropolitan region. The project has been entrusted to MahaRail by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, underscoring growing coordination between rail and metropolitan planning agencies. Industry experts note that such collaboration is increasingly necessary as Mumbai invests in layered transport systems that combine metros, elevated roads and suburban rail without overwhelming ground-level streets.
From an economic perspective, the bridge is expected to support smoother freight and workforce movement between central Mumbai, the island city and emerging business districts. Real estate analysts also point out that improved connectivity often stabilises property markets in older neighbourhoods by enhancing accessibility without triggering disruptive large-scale redevelopment. With completion targeted for late 2026, the Elphinstone double-decker ROB represents more than an engineering milestone. It signals how Mumbai is rethinking infrastructure delivery—prioritising capacity, safety and resilience while working within tight urban footprints. The coming months will test whether execution timelines can match ambition, but the project has already set a precedent for how India’s financial capital may rebuild its ageing crossings for a denser, lower-carbon future.
Mumbai Upgrades Elphinstone With Double Decker ROB
