Elphinstone bridge reopening hits hurdle, pushed to 2027

A year after the loss of Mumbai's 112-year-old Elphinstone bridge, its replacement is still months away from completion. The railway portion is now projected to be finished by November 2026, with the bridge not expected to open to traffic until January or February 2027. The next major challenge is the installation of four steel spans across the railway tracks, a task requiring a minimum of 39 railway blocks over 25 days.

Initially anticipated to be quicker, the reconstruction is part of the double-decker Elphinstone bridge-Sewri-Worli connector project. MahaRail, responsible for the railway segment, is assembling the spans on-site and aims to commence launching them by the end of September, pending favorable weather conditions. The four spans, comprising two 92.5-meter and two 34.5-meter structures, will be positioned to accommodate carriageways over railway tracks at Prabhadevi and Parel, as well as future railway lines.

Out of the 39 blocks, 32 will be essential for launching, while seven are for preparatory work. These will largely be conducted during late-night hours, allowing workers around 2.5 hours between the last and first trains. Despite potential delays due to rain or festival season, officials emphasize continued work progress. The launching plan has been submitted to Central and Western Railways for approval.

MahaRail has set November 2026 as the deadline for its portion completion. Following this, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will complete the approach roads and link the railway and non-railway parts of the bridge, a process expected to persist until January or February 2027. The reconstructed structure will have local traffic on the lower deck, while the upper deck will serve as part of the 4.5-kilometer Sewri-Worli connector, linking Worli end of the Coastal Road with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.