Why Elphinstone bridge in Mumbai is yet to be demolished amid issues

It was on January 31 when HT first reported that the British-era Elphinstone road over bridge (ROB), a crucial east-west connector in central Mumbai, is expected to be demolished by the end of February, with a double-decker bridge planned to replace it.

- Shashank Rao and Megha Sood

MUMBAI:

Nearly two weeks into March, there are still no signs of any demolition. In a scenario that's quintessentially Mumbai, multiple government agencies are still trying to figure out the way through the complex bureaucratic web they've spun over Maximum City over decades. These include the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), Western Railway (WR), Central Railway (CR), and the Mumbai traffic police.

With multiple issues still to be sorted out, it's unlikely the bridge will be demolished before the board examinations finish by the end of March, according to officials aware of developments.

Traffic trouble The Elphinstone ROB connects the bustling central Mumbai areas of Prabhadevi and Parel. It passes over two railway stations on two different railway lines, used by 500,000-700,000 commuters daily. It is surrounded by several buildings, some decades old and others housing some of Mumbai's swankiest offices. There are residential areas and schools nearby, along with prominent hospitals such as the Tata Memorial Hospital and KEM Hospital, which are frequented by tens of thousands of people daily.

Needless to say, the impact of the bridge's demolition will be felt.