Mumbai: Carnac Bridge's Revamp To Start By November

In a latest development, it has come to light that the construction of one of the oldest bridge in Mumbai, Carnac, will begin in November.

The civic body expects that the railways will complete the demolition of the bridge in three months, that is by November 22. While the expected time to complete the bridge is 19 months, inclusive of the monsoon.

To ease the traffic congestion in South Mumbai, the BMC has set a deadline to complete the 154-year-old bridge by June 2024.

The contractor has been finalised and the financial provisions are made, official added. The contract has been awarded to M/s A. B. Infrabuild Ltd. and the contract cost is estimated to be INR 53.08 crores.

Reports stated that the length of the new bridge will be 70 metres and the width 26.5 metres. Besides, the west side approach of the four-lane bridge will be 122.75 metres and the east side approach road will be 167 metres.

It is pertinent to note that the bridge was constructed in 1868-69, providing access to the dockside. It was declared unsafe in 2014, but since the construction of the 150 years old Hancock bridge, located between Sandhurst road and Byculla was in pipeline, the BMC had to put the plans on hold.

Explaining on the same, civic official stated that the reconstruction of the Hancock bridge was expected to be completed before the pandemic. It was delayed due to the hurdle of residential buildings on either side of the road.

Moreover, for the work to go swiftly, the BMC has relocated the civic amenities next to the bridge and has evicted more than 500 hawkers from Yusuf Meher Ali road, Mohammed Ali road and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Road, on which the vehicles will be diverted.

For those unversed, the British-era bridge runs over the railway tracks between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Masjid Bunder railway station.

It was closed for heavy vehicles in 2014, but the construction was delayed since the other important Hancock bridge was still under construction. Both bridges provide east-west connectivity in South Mumbai. Finally, the two lanes of Hancock bridge were opened on August 2, clearing the way for the Carnac Bunder bridge.