The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to install the second girder of the historic 154-year-old Carnac Bridge on January 19, 2025, as part of ongoing reconstruction efforts. The installation is contingent upon receiving approval from the railway authorities for a block on the designated dates. The first girder, which weighs 516 metric tons, has already been successfully launched, and the steel components for the second girder have been mostly delivered. With the final shipment expected by December 20, 2024, the project is progressing toward a June 5, 2025 deadline for reopening the bridge to traffic.
The Carnac Bridge, located between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Masjid Bunder, has been closed to heavy vehicles since 2014. The reconstruction work faced several delays due to ongoing work on the Hancock Bridge and issues surrounding encroachments in the area. However, with 80% of the work now completed, including the installation of the first girder, the focus has shifted to completing the second girder installation. The steel components for the second girder have been delivered in phases, with 83% of the total components already on-site at Masjid Bunder. The assembly process is expected to conclude by January 13, 2025, followed by a trial run on January 14. The BMC has requested a railway block for January 18-19, 2025, to facilitate the girder installation, which will mark a significant milestone in the bridge’s reconstruction.
Additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar, along with officials from the bridge department, visited the site for an inspection on Thursday, outlining the timeline for the project. After the girder installation, the work on the piling foundation for the bridge’s east and west approach roads is set to be completed by March 15, 2025. The erection of pillars is scheduled for April 17, and the concreting of the approach roads will be done by May 3, 2025. Load testing is set to occur on June 1, 2025, in preparation for the bridge’s reopening. The BMC is optimistic that the bridge will be operational for traffic by June 5, 2025, provided that the railway block on the required dates is secured. In an effort to avoid delays, parallel activities, such as the installation of anti-crash barriers and electrical poles, will proceed concurrently with the main construction works. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 49 crore, and the newly reconstructed bridge will span 70 meters in length and 26.5 meters in width.
