Western Railway Replaces Historic Screw-Pile Bridge Over Mithi River: A Safer Future for Commuters

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Western Railway has started reconstructing the iconic bridge over the Mithi River, which connects Bandra and Mahim, ending the legacy of one of India’s last remaining screw-pile structures. The 135-year-old bridge, built in 1888, is being upgraded from its original cast iron screw-pile foundation to a more secure reinforced cement concrete (RCC) design following safety concerns.

This crucial reconstruction comes after a directive from Indian Railways to replace all screw-pile bridges, prompted by the 2001 Kadalundi bridge accident. The eight cast iron screw piles, which once supported the bridge, have become weak over time, posing a risk to safe train operations.

To carry out the work, a 9.5-hour block will be imposed on local train services between Dadar and Andheri during the nights of January 24-25 and 25-26. The bridge’s cast iron pillars, weighing 8-10 tonnes each, extend 15-20 meters into the riverbed but are no longer reliable after decades of usage. These pillars will be replaced with RCC structures to ensure long-term safety and improved train services.

This historic bridge, spanning 50-60 meters, carries four vital rail lines between Churchgate and Virar, and its modernization will ensure smoother, uninterrupted operations in the future. While the project temporarily impacts local train services, it’s a key step in boosting the rail network's safety and reliability.