Western Railway Replaces Bridge 5 Girder in Record 10 Hours
In a significant engineering achievement, Western Railway has successfully replaced the steel girder of Bridge 5—located between Mumbai Central and Grant Road—with a Non-Standard Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) slab in record time. Initially projected to take 13 hours, the complex operation was remarkably completed in just 10 hours, minimising disruptions to one of Mumbai’s busiest rail corridors.
Bridge 5, a skew bridge with a 49-degree angle and a 12-meter span, posed unique challenges due to space constraints and active railway operations. To facilitate the replacement, engineers deployed 10 PSC slabs, each measuring 11,565 mm in length and 650 mm in depth, along with ballast retainers for structural reinforcement. One of the most critical aspects of the project was the positioning of the crane directly on the through lines, which required the temporary removal of overhead electrical equipment (OHE) on three tracks. Despite these operational hurdles, the team ensured meticulous planning, seamless coordination, and precision execution, allowing train services to resume swiftly.
With thousands of trains passing through Mumbai Central daily, bridge safety is a top priority for Western Railway. The new PSC slab structure enhances the strength, stability, and longevity of Bridge 5, ensuring smoother rail operations and minimising maintenance disruptions in the future. A senior official from Western Railway praised the project’s success, stating, “This achievement reflects our commitment to strengthening Mumbai’s railway infrastructure while ensuring minimal disruption to commuters. The exceptional coordination and execution set a new benchmark for future bridge upgrades.”
Mumbai’s railway network is the lifeline of the city, and timely infrastructure upgrades like this play a crucial role in improving operational efficiency and commuter safety. The successful completion of the Bridge 5 replacement project highlights Western Railway’s dedication to modernisation, safety, and engineering excellence—a move that sets the stage for future high-speed rail and metro integration across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
