The dismantling of Mumbai’s 112-year-old Elphinstone Road Over Bridge is advancing steadily, with authorities now targeting completion by August 2026, two months earlier than the previously scheduled October deadline. The bridge, a crucial connector between Lower Parel and Prabhadevi, is being removed in carefully timed phases over live tracks of Western and Central Railway, reflecting the technical complexity of modernising urban infrastructure in a dense, high-traffic city.
The project involves removing the old steel deck in three sections of roughly 30 metres each, a process executed during limited nightly railway blocks to minimise disruption to suburban train operations. The western span has been fully dismantled, while work on the central and eastern spans is ongoing. Officials describe the central section as particularly challenging due to its location above multiple active tracks and its length, requiring precise crane operations and temporary lowering of overhead electrical wires. Industry experts note that such phased, high-precision work represents one of the more sophisticated suburban railway interventions in India. Once dismantled, the bridge will be replaced with a modern double-deck structure designed to enhance traffic capacity while minimising interference with railway operations. The replacement features a single 132-metre open web girder fabricated in Noida, designed without intermediate piers above the tracks to improve structural efficiency and reduce operational hazards. Foundation work for wider columns and deeper piers is underway, with the girder expected to be launched using specialised sliding techniques once substructures are complete.
The accelerated completion timeline underscores a broader push by state authorities to modernise ageing transport infrastructure in Mumbai while maintaining uninterrupted rail services. A senior project official highlighted that stricter scheduling and enhanced coordination across civil and mechanical teams have allowed for faster progress without compromising safety.
Mumbai is also advancing similar bridge projects at Byculla, Dadar, and Ghatkopar, forming a comprehensive urban transport modernisation programme. At Byculla, a new three-lane cable-stayed bridge is under construction alongside the existing structure, which will later be rebuilt to create a six-lane facility. Dadar’s underground deck construction is complete, while Ghatkopar’s nearly four-kilometre bridge involves longer timelines due to its scale. Urban planners say these projects collectively improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and support sustainable, climate-resilient mobility in a city facing growing traffic pressures.
As Mumbai continues to expand and densify, the Elphinstone project exemplifies how heritage infrastructure can be carefully replaced with modern designs that balance operational efficiency, public safety, and urban mobility needs. The focus now shifts to completing dismantling and launching the new structure, which will set a benchmark for future bridge reconstructions over active railway corridors.
Mumbai Elphinstone Bridge Dismantling Nears Completion
