The new Carnac bridge at Masjid Bunder is expected to open for traffic this week. The Central Railway gave its final approval on Tuesday, June 24. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received a No Objection Certificate (NOC), clearing the last hurdle.
The bridge connects South Mumbai to the eastern suburbs. It links to the Eastern Freeway and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link. The bridge is important for easing traffic movement in the area.
The original structure was 154 years old, built in 1868. In November 2022, the bridge was dismantled after a structural audit declared it unsafe. The bridge had been shut to heavy vehicles since 2014 due to safety concerns.
Rebuilding the bridge faced many delays. These included nearby encroachments and the ongoing Hancock Bridge project. The main construction of the new bridge was completed on June 10. A load test was done on June 15. The opening was delayed due to the pending clearance from the railways.
The new bridge has a 70-metre-long and 9.5-metre-wide steel superstructure. It cost INR 60 crore to build. Unlike the old bridge, which had only two lanes, the new one has four lanes. This is expected to help reduce traffic congestion in South Mumbai.
Share
Tweet
