Residents of buildings in line of fire stall Elphinstone bridge closure on Friday night demanding proper hearing for their woes; the authorities, originally planning to shut the bridge at 9 pm, were forced to delay the closure until midnight after agitated residents converged on the structure and blocked traffic
Residents pull down the bridge closure banner. Pics/Ashish Raje
Sentiments ran high at the site of the Elphinstone bridge (also known as Karol bridge) on Friday evening, as locals staged multiple rasta rokos to protest the planned demolition of the bridge without their rehabilitation demands being addressed. The authorities, originally planning to shut the bridge at 9 pm, were forced to delay the closure until midnight after agitated residents converged on the structure and blocked traffic.
Locals protesting against the closure of the bridge
We are protesting because once they shut the bridge, 19 buildings—including ours—will be at stake,” said local resident Sriram Pawar. “They plan to demolish these buildings for the double-decker bridge foundation, but we’re only being offered a few lakhs as compensation.”
Residents continue protests at Elphinstone Bridge site, demanding written assurances from MMRDA. A sit-in protest has begun, with locals saying no demolition until demands are met.
— Mid Day (@mid_day) April 25, 2025
Credits: @iamATULKAMBLE @rajtoday #ElphinstoneBridge #MumbaiProtest #MMRDA pic.twitter.com/N4SpMHxZbi
“The pillars of the new bridge are going to pass through our buildings, and our houses are going to be demolished. This is absolutely unfair,” Pawar added. Another resident, Sonal Mayekar, added, “We want compensation at market rates, based on the ready reckoner. We’ve been duped by the government. We’re not against the project, just the way it's being forced on us.”
Pallavi Padia, another local, claimed, “We’ve lived here for generations. Now, MHADA is suddenly sending us notices saying our buildings are dilapidated—just a trick to evict us. We’re not moving.”
Authorities bring in the barricades for road closure
“I use the bridge daily to commute to work. It takes just 10-15 minutes now. But, after the bridge shuts, and looking at the traffic, it will take at least 45-50 minutes to get home. From Monday, I will have to spare two hours a day instead of just 30 minutes,” Yash Thakur, 25, an Elphinstone resident who uses the bridge to reach his office in Lower Parel.
Alternate routes
With the bridge closed, alternate east-west routes such as the Currey Road Bridge, the Delisle Road Bridge at Lower Parel, and the Tilak Bridge at Dadar have started facing congestion. The situation is expected to worsen from Monday, the first working day post-closure.
Progressive shutdown begins
Barricading of the Elphinstone Bridge began at 6 pm in phases—first private vehicles were diverted, followed by ambulances, then public transport and two-wheelers. The closure will severely impact access to nearby hospitals, including K.E.M., Wadia, and Tata Memorial.
Locals stop the JCB brought by the authorities for demolition. Pics/Atul Kamble
Reconstruction
The demolition will be phased. The MMRDA will dismantle the non-railway portion, while the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MahaRail or MRIDC) will handle the railway section. While MMRDA has shared its dismantling plan, MRIDC admitted they have not yet finalised the railway demolition blueprint.
Calls for alternate road
Residents have revived demands for an earlier-planned DP Road that would connect Hindmata in Dadar East to Pramod Mahajan Garden in Dadar West. “The 700–800m long road could decongest Hindmata Junction, Dadar TT, and Senapati Bapat Marg, offering a vital link for emergency services,” said Chetan Kamble of the ChakaChak Dadar group.
Protesting residents pull down the bridge closure banner put up by the authorities. Pic/Atul Kamble
Railways not ready
In a surprising admission, MahaRail stated they are yet to finalise a demolition plan in consultation with zonal railways, despite the bridge closure beginning Friday night.
Foot overbridge missing
While traffic plans are in place, a key foot overbridge between Parel and Prabhadevi remains incomplete. As reported by mid-day earlier this month, the footbridge ends mid-air and hampers pedestrian movement. A site visit on Friday confirmed that work is still ongoing.
Key demolition details
>> The entire dismantling process is scheduled till July 10, 2025.
>> Approaches (excluding the railway section) will be demolished by May 30, 2025.
>> An 800-metric-tonne capacity crane (with a 500-tonne standby) will lift steel girders.
>> Required: 2 Poclain-210 machines, 10 dumpers.
Debris:
>> 16,316 cubic metres (approach)
>> 900-metric-tonnes (steel girders)
The bridge will be replaced by a double-deck structure: the lower deck for east-west traffic and the upper deck connecting to the Atal Setu (Sewri-Nhava Sheva). A 4.5-km elevated road will link Atal Setu to Worli and further toward south Mumbai and Bandra.
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