The historic Reay Road bridge will finally be thrown open to traffic today. The revamped structure, now Mumbai’s first cable-stayed road overbridge, will be officially inaugurated at 7 PM by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
The bridge, a critical connector for East and South Mumbai, was fast-tracked for completion as part of a broader effort to replace British-era bridges nearing the end of their service lives. But even as the city celebrates this infrastructural milestone, the glaring absence of pedestrian infrastructure has sparked public outrage. Constructed jointly by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC or Maharail) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the new bridge is a visual leap from its 115-year-old predecessor. Designed with six vehicle lanes, architectural LED lighting, and an integrated bridge health monitoring system, the structure meets modern standards of engineering and aesthetics. Yet, in its pursuit of automobile-friendly design, the bridge has seemingly forgotten its walkers — there are no footpaths.
Pedestrians, who once relied on direct access from the Reay Road railway station, must now detour through Sant Savta Mali Marg in Byculla East to reach the bridge. The connector between the station and bridge now hovers nearly seven feet above the old station building, rendering it inaccessible for thousands of commuters who depend on walking and public transport — a demographic that forms the bulk of Mumbai’s travelling public. “This new bridge is a marvel of design, but a disaster for pedestrians,” said a transport advocacy group leader, expressing frustration over the continued marginalisation of non-motorised commuters. “The absence of footpaths on a major urban overbridge in 2025 is not just shortsighted; it’s exclusionary. This isn’t the future Mumbai deserves.”
The project began on February 14, 2022, and was completed in December 2024, yet the inauguration faced delays due to administrative formalities and synchronisation with other infrastructure launches. A second bridge in Titwala, about 65 kilometres away, will also be remotely inaugurated from the Reay Road site this evening. Both projects are part of the state’s aggressive push to upgrade ageing transport arteries and modernise road-rail integration. Officials from Maharail noted that the Reay Road structure maintains vertical clearance in compliance with Indian Road Congress standards and facilitates seamless traffic under the Eastern Freeway. LED illumination not only enhances aesthetics but is expected to improve visibility and security for nighttime commuters. A bridge health monitoring system will ensure early detection of structural stress or damage, a crucial aspect for long-term safety in a coastal, high-traffic city like Mumbai.
Still, these advancements have not allayed concerns raised by residents, activists, and urban planners. For many, the bridge’s design signals an alarming shift towards auto-centric development in a city where less than 15 percent of the population owns private vehicles. Walking, cycling, and public transit remain the dominant modes of mobility in Mumbai — a reality urban infrastructure must reflect rather than ignore. “The century-old British bridges we are replacing had broader and more humane design principles,” remarked a local urbanist. “It is ironic that older bridges gave more space to walkers than these contemporary ones supposedly built for the next generation.”
Examples like the Gokhale bridge and Barfiwala connector, which suffered from poor alignment and pedestrian disconnection, have set worrying precedents. Citizens fear that Reay Road may become yet another symbol of thoughtless engineering if steps are not taken to integrate multi-modal access. Residents of Byculla and Mazagaon — neighbourhoods densely populated with daily wage workers, hawkers, students, and senior citizens — have voiced strong objections. “There is no direct access from the bridge to Reay Road station anymore. We have used that path for decades,” said one commuter. “Now we must take a roundabout route, wasting precious time and adding inconvenience.”
Despite public outcry, city officials maintain that integration is underway. A senior civic officer from the BMC confirmed that a foot overbridge connecting the heritage ticket office at Reay Road station will soon be aligned with the new bridge. Drawings have been approved by Central Railway, and the booking office has already been shifted to facilitate future access. However, no concrete timeline has been shared, and pedestrian amenities remain unavailable as of the bridge’s opening day. Advocates like the Walking Project, which promotes walkable cities, have urged the administration to halt the growing trend of eliminating pedestrian space. “We are witnessing a pattern — from Gokhale to Delisle to Reay Road — where footpaths are being narrowed or removed altogether,” said the organisation’s programme director. “This is not just bad planning; it’s structurally unjust in a city where the majority walk or use public transport.”
Mumbai’s urban form has long been shaped by its walking population. Footpaths and footbridges are not luxuries but essentials for equitable access. As the city moves ahead with ambitious infrastructure upgrades, these must reflect the needs of all commuters, not just motorists. The inauguration of Reay Road bridge today is undoubtedly a proud moment in terms of civil engineering and project execution. But for thousands of Mumbaikars who move on foot or by train, it may also stand as a monument to misplaced priorities. As the city builds for its future, the hope is that inclusivity, sustainability, and equity will shape more than just blueprints — but everyday experiences for all.
Also Read : South Mumbai Gets Infrastructure Boost with Inauguration of Reay Road Bridge
