Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde instructed the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MRIDC) to speed up dismantling and reconstruction of the railway portions of the Elphinstone bridge and complete the work by the end of April, setting a deadline that is significantly earlier than the agency’s projected September timeline.
MRIDC, also known as MahaRail, is responsible for rebuilding the railway span of the bridge, while the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is constructing the non-railway portions through its contractor J Kumar.
The bridge forms a crucial component of the Sewri–Worli elevated road project in Mumbai. While certain sections are being developed by Maharail, others are being handled by MMRDA. Delays in completing the railway portion, however, could push back the overall timeline of the project.
Since the existing structure must be demolished and rebuilt in coordination with the Railway Department, work is restricted to limited nighttime hours. Maharail has stated that technical challenges and procedural requirements related to railway blocks are making it difficult to adhere to the planned schedule.
Piling work on the non-railway side has already begun and is on track, officials said.
The authorities aim to open the bridge fully to traffic by September. However, if the railway segment is not finished on time, further delays are likely. To prevent this, the administration has expressed its willingness to hold high-level meetings to accelerate progress.
The old bridge at Prabhadevi is currently being dismantled, and a new two-tier bridge is under construction as part of the Sewri–Worli elevated road project.
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