Mumbai Traffic Nightmare: Elphinstone Bridge to Close for 2+ Years!

 Mumbai:  Starting in February, one of Mumbai's most vital bridges, the Elphinstone (Prabhadevi) Bridge, will be shut for at least two years for much-needed reconstruction. This bridge connects Dr Ambedkar Road to Senapati Bapat Road, crossing over Parel and Prabhadevi stations, and its closure will significantly affect traffic flow in the already congested area.

As an alternative, vehicles will be directed to Tilak Bridge at Dadar and the newly opened Delisle Road Bridge at Lower Parel, but with the Sion Bridge also shut, the city can expect a major traffic gridlock. The new structure will feature a two-deck design— the lower deck for east-west connectivity and the upper deck connecting to the Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. The MMRDA is also working on a 4.5-km elevated road to connect Atal Setu to Worli, easing the travel to South Mumbai and Bandra.

The Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) will oversee the construction over the railway lines, creating a two-storey bridge above the tracks. As the city braces for traffic chaos, local authorities are handling encroachments and preparing for foundation work on both sides of the bridge.

The closure will begin on February 2, pending final approvals, with a focus on minimizing inconvenience to commuters. Stay tuned for further updates on alternative routes!