Mumbai’s east-west connectivity is set for a major boost as the newly reconstructed Carnac Bridge, now renamed Sindoor Bridge, will be officially opened to the public on Thursday. The renamed bridge pays homage to Operation Sindoor, a recent cross-border military strike targeting terror infrastructure, marking a unique convergence of civic infrastructure and national sentiment.
Officials from the civic administration confirmed that the decision to rechristen the bridge was finalised earlier this week, following a formal recommendation from a senior state functionary. The inauguration ceremony will be led by the chief executive of the state government, accompanied by key ministers and civic representatives. Constructed originally in 1868 and named after a colonial-era governor, the Carnac Bridge has long been a vital corridor linking Masjid station to P D Mello Road in south Mumbai. However, a structural audit in 2022 deemed the British-era structure unsafe, prompting a swift four-day demolition and a reconstruction plan jointly undertaken by the municipal corporation and the Indian Railways.
The new Sindoor Bridge spans a total length of 328 metres, with 70 metres falling under railway jurisdiction. The upgraded structure is designed to accommodate four lanes of vehicular traffic, doubling its original capacity and addressing long-standing congestion issues in this dense transport corridor. The ₹60 crore redevelopment project reached completion in June this year, but its commissioning was held up pending approvals from the Central Railway and the installation of key signage and public utilities. The delayed opening had also led to political criticism from opposition parties, who staged protests earlier this month.
The renaming of the bridge has sparked mixed reactions from urban development observers. While some hail the gesture as a patriotic tribute that reinforces civic-military solidarity, others suggest that naming public infrastructure after military operations may politicise urban spaces meant for common civic utility. Nonetheless, the reopening of the bridge is expected to significantly ease vehicular movement across major city roads, including Mohammad Ali Road and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road, offering long-overdue relief to commuters and improving last-mile linkages in south Mumbai.
In a city grappling with ageing infrastructure, the Sindoor Bridge reflects the growing push for resilient, efficient, and culturally resonant urban development.
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