Mumbai’s transport landscape is set for a significant transformation as demolition work has commenced on the century-old Elphinstone Bridge, now known as Prabhadevi Bridge. Deemed unsafe after years of heavy usage, the British-era structure will make way for a modern double-decker flyover designed to meet the city’s growing transport demands.
Authorities have confirmed that the bridge was closed late last week, forcing traffic diversions to Currey Road and other nearby crossings. The move has already triggered congestion in dense neighbourhoods such as Bharatmata, Lalbaug, Parel, Chinchpokli and Dadar, where vehicles are spilling over into narrow lanes. Bus services have also been rerouted, leading to longer travel times for daily commuters. The Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail), tasked with reconstructing the corridor, has sought as many as 82 traffic blocks from both Central and Western Railways. Officials explained that these blocks will primarily be scheduled at night, lasting at least four hours each, to ensure demolition and construction activities do not severely impact daytime train operations.
In terms of scale, the demolition is one of the largest of its kind in Mumbai. Engineers have deployed two high-capacity cranes, each weighing 800 metric tonnes, to carefully dismantle the bridge. Railway officials clarified that while the project is extensive, suburban train services on the adjoining lines are expected to continue uninterrupted. Urban mobility experts note that the new flyover is being positioned not just as a replacement but as a forward-looking solution for the city. The proposed double-decker design aims to decongest one of Mumbai’s busiest corridors, streamlining both vehicular and pedestrian movement. Planners argue that modern infrastructure, if designed with sustainability in mind, can play a vital role in reducing vehicular idling, cutting emissions and enabling smoother public transport operations.
The project has been given a completion horizon of one year once all permissions are cleared. Officials suggested that after foundational pillars are erected, construction will accelerate, promising faster relief for one of the city’s most gridlocked zones. For residents, the project represents both inconvenience and hope. While the current traffic diversions are a daily challenge, the long-term benefits are being framed as a crucial trade-off. Urban planners emphasise that infrastructure renewal of this scale is essential for cities like Mumbai, where outdated colonial-era structures are under pressure from unprecedented urbanisation.
The demolition of the Elphinstone Bridge is thus more than a technical operation—it is symbolic of Mumbai’s effort to reconcile heritage infrastructure with the demands of a sustainable, efficient and equitable transport future.
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