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The project aims to finish in 12 months, though part of the road between Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and Senapati Bapat Marg will be closed during this time, with approval from the traffic police.
The demolition of the old bridge and building of the new one will require close coordination with railway authorities.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is swiftly advancing the Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector, a vital 4.5-km stretch that will improve links between Atal Setu, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and the upcoming Mumbai Coastal Road.
Designed as a four-lane elevated corridor, this project is crucial for easing traffic across Mumbai and connecting Navi Mumbai, Central Mumbai, and South Mumbai.
With 60 percent of the work completed, the project includes building two major Road Over Bridges (ROBs)—one near Sewri Station, crossing the Harbour Railway Line, and another at Elphinstone Road (Prabhadevi), crossing the Central and Western Railway lines. These bridges are vital to the project but come with major engineering challenges, especially at Elphinstone Road.
One of the most difficult parts of the project is replacing an old, 100-year-old bridge near Prabhadevi Railway Station with a new double-decker bridge. The current bridge, only 13 metres wide, will be demolished to make way for a modern structure. The new bridge will have two levels: one with a 2+2 lane carriageway connecting Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and Senapati Bapat Road, and another to help traffic flow from Atal Setu to Worli.
According to Free Press Journal, an MMRDA official explained, “The Elphinstone ROB is one of the hardest parts of the Sewri-Worli Connector project. It’s old, and its location over the busy suburban railway lines means we need to be extra careful during demolition and reconstruction.”
The demolition of the old bridge and building of the new one will require close coordination with railway authorities. The new bridge will include two large spans—one 95 metres long, weighing 3,000 tonnes, and another 37 metres, weighing 1,200 tonnes.
The main challenges include:
- Dismantling the old bridge with heavy-duty cranes, including two 800-tonne cranes and a backup 500-tonne crane.
- Working over live railway tracks, which needs special permissions from Central and Western Railways.
- Limited space for work due to nearby properties, requiring precise planning.Moving local utilities to accommodate new approach structures.
The project aims to finish in 12 months, though part of the road between Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and Senapati Bapat Marg will be closed during this time, with approval from the traffic police.
Once finished, the Sewri-Worli Connector is set to reduce congestion, easing 15-20 percent of the traffic from Atal Setu and improving commutes across Mumbai.
