Mumbai’s Elphistone Bridge is up for reconstruction and will be closed for two years.

Elphinstone Bridge in Mumbai to Undergo Reconstruction, Closed for Two Years

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: January 31, 2025

Summary: As part of the Sewri-Worli Connector project, the Elphinstone Bridge will be demolished and rebuilt by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

A crucial connection between Parel and Prabhadevi between the Central and Western Railway tracks, Elphinstone Bridge will be closed for two years, Central Mumbai is expected to experience severe traffic congestion.

To improve the Sewri-Worli link, which crosses the British-era bridge, an important east-west route that crosses train tracks near Prabhadevi and Parel stations, its height and width must be enhanced.

Beginning in February, drivers in Mumbai's Parel district may encounter high gridlock. The demolition will begin the last week of February.

The bridge is undergoing replacement by a dual-deck design, where the lower deck maintains east-west connectivity and the upper deck connects to the Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. The MMRDA has put forward a plan to build a 4.5-km elevated road, enabling vehicles from Atal Setu to directly access Worli and continue to South Mumbai or Bandra.

The development was confirmed by MMRDA officials, who said they had filed the project and were awaiting BMC and traffic police permission. An MMRDA official said, “There are some encroachments and local issues to be addressed by the BMC, as space is required for the bridge’s foundations and other structural elements on both sides of the existing flyover.”

After Sion ROB, Carnac Bridge, Bellasis Bridge, and Reay Road Bridge were closed, Elphinstone Bridge is the fifth Mumbai bridge from the British era to close. The city is already experiencing major traffic jams as a result of their closures.

Due to the closure of Elphinstone Bridge, traffic will be rerouted to Tilak Bridge (Dadar) and Currey Road Bridge, which are already overloaded with vehicles. It is anticipated that peak-hour traffic will intensify due to a lack of alternate routes, lengthening commutes.