Mumbai’s Historic Elphinstone Bridge to Be Replaced by Double-Decker Structure
Mumbai is on the brink of bidding farewell to one of its historic landmarks as the 125-year-old Elphinstone Road Over Bridge, built during the British era, is set to be demolished by the end of February. The iconic structure, which serves as a vital east-west connector near Prabhadevi and Parel stations, will be replaced by Mumbai’s second double-decker bridge, following the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR).
The decision comes as part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) ambitious plan to enhance urban mobility. The new bridge will support the under-construction Sewri-Worli connector, which is designed to link the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to the Atal Setu, forming a seamless, signal-free corridor across central Mumbai. The new double-decker bridge will not only increase the structure’s height and width to accommodate the connector but also improve traffic flow across one of Mumbai’s busiest railway corridors. The 4.5 km-long Sewri-Worli connector will rise 27 metres above ground, crossing dense urban zones and critical transport infrastructures, including railway tracks at Prabhadevi, Parel, and Sewri, the monorail line, and flyovers on the Eastern Express Highway and Senapati Bapat Marg.
Designed with four lanes—two in each direction—the connector is expected to carry 15% of Atal Setu’s vehicle load, significantly easing congestion. Travel time between Sewri and Worli, which currently ranges from 40 to 60 minutes during peak hours, will be slashed to under 10 minutes once the project is completed by early 2026. Despite the infrastructure upgrade, the demolition is expected to cause temporary disruptions, particularly at Prabhadevi station, where the bridge currently provides two key exits. The Western Railway has announced plans to relocate booking offices to minimise commuter inconvenience, though minor disruptions to train services are anticipated during the demolition and reconstruction phases. Traffic barriers will be strategically placed to manage vehicle flow around the demolition site.
Reflecting on past experiences, commuters are concerned about potential delays. The Delisle Road Bridge at Lower Parel, for instance, took nearly five years (2018–2023) to be demolished, reconstructed, and reopened—a timeline that MMRDA hopes to improve upon for the Elphinstone project. Adding to the debate, Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA from Worli, has urged the MMRDA to postpone the demolition until after April 2025 to avoid disruptions during the board examination season. The final timeline remains uncertain as the tender process is still underway. While the Elphinstone Bridge holds historical significance, its transformation into a modern double-decker structure marks Mumbai’s relentless march towards infrastructural progress. As the city prepares for this transition, the challenge lies in balancing urban development with commuter convenience and heritage preservation.
