Four pedestrian crossings near Masjid and Matunga railway stations in Mumbai have been ordered closed until further notice after structural audits by IIT Mumbai found deterioration and corrosion in important parts of the structures. The closures are being implemented as a safety measure ahead of the heavy passenger crowds expected during Ganeshotsav.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation instructed Central Railway to close the crossings after a joint inspection by municipal and railway officials. IIT Mumbai submitted separate reports on all four structures on August 31, following the inspection, according to a report by Loksatta – Mumbai.
The audit recommended that the structures be immediately shut to pedestrian use and rebuilt. The report identified wear and corrosion in key structural components, raising safety concerns about continued public access, particularly during a period when railway stations and their surrounding areas are expected to experience large crowds.
The crossings to be closed include the Bhandari pedestrian bridge at Masjid, the pedestrian bridge at Masjid railway station, the parallel road gate on Bhau Daji Road in Matunga, and the Matunga-Dharavi pedestrian bridge near Guru Nanak High School. The crossings serve pedestrian movement around railway premises and adjoining neighbourhoods.
Central Railway and the municipal corporation conducted the joint inspection before the closure decision. The action follows the structural assessment rather than a reported incident at any of the four locations. The authorities have not stated in the supplied report how long the closures will continue or provided a completion timeline for reconstruction.
Ganeshotsav brings increased movement through Mumbai’s railway stations and nearby roads, making the condition and capacity of pedestrian infrastructure particularly significant during the festival period. With the four crossings closed, passengers and residents will have to use alternative routes around Masjid and Matunga. Central Railway has appealed to commuters and citizens to cooperate with the railway administration and use the designated alternative routes.
The closures will remain in force until further orders. The next formal steps are the implementation of the closures and the proposed reconstruction of the four structures identified in the IIT Mumbai reports.
