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The bridge, known as Bridge No. 20, spans the Mithi River and supports four rail lines between Churchgate and Virar.
This historic bridge, built in 1888, has been supported by cast iron screw piles for over 135 years.(Photo: India TV News)
Western Railway has started work on rebuilding the bridge over the Mithi River, which links Bandra and Mahim.
This marks the end of one of Indian Railways’ last remaining screw-pile bridges.
According to TOI, the decision to replace all screw-pile foundations came after a serious rail accident on the Kadalundi bridge in 2001. Built in 1888, the bridge’s cast-iron screw piles have supported the tracks for over 135 years but are now being replaced with a stronger Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) foundation.
To carry out this critical work, local train services between Dadar and Andheri will be suspended for 9.5 hours on the nights of January 24-25 and January 25-26. This is part of Indian Railways’ nationwide initiative to phase out screw-pile structures for safety reasons.
The bridge, known as Bridge No. 20, spans the Mithi River and supports four rail lines between Churchgate and Virar. It is held up by eight cast-iron pillars, each weighing between 8–10 tonnes, which extend 15–20 metres into the riverbed. While these pillars have been reinforced over the years, they have weakened and are now a safety risk.
A Western Railway engineer explained, “The screw piles will be dismantled and replaced during this reconstruction effort.”
The 50–60 metre-long bridge is supported by seven cement girders. Cofferdams have been set up on both sides of the river to prevent water from entering the work area, and high-power pumps will be used to remove any accumulated water.
Once completed, this historic bridge will be replaced with a modern, safer design, ensuring smooth rail operations for years to come.
