Old Elphinstone bridge completely demolished on Sunday morning: Officials

The old Elphinstone bridge connecting Parel and Prabhadevi in central Mumbai was completely demolished early on Sunday morning as part of the ongoing removal work of the structure officials said adding that the bridge was fully removed by 714 amAccording to the officials to carry out the demolition safely a block was imposed on suburban railway lines The removal block on the UP and DOWN slow lines was cleared at 706 am while the UP and DOWN fast lines were restored at 714 amThe demolition and restoration of services were completed in a coordinated manner ensuring minimal disruption to commuters during the early hours officials saidRailway officials stated that all lines are now fully operational Suburban train services have resumed as per the regular Sunday timetableDoubledeck bridge to come upFollowing its demolition construction of the new doubledeck bridge will soon beginThe project is expected to be completed by 2027 It will feature two decks with 22 lanes each linking the Western suburbs to the Sea Link Atal Setu Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and Eastern Express corridorsOver a centuryold bridgeThe 112yearold bridge has been a vital eastwest connector across Mumbairsquos railway corridor linking the former mill hub of Parel with the residential and commercial zones of PrabhadeviIt was originally commissioned by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway GIPR in 1905 and completed in 1913However decades of heavy traffic structural wear and urban expansion have taken a toll Its removal is part of a larger project to construct a new doubledeck road overbridge and elevated connector that will drastically improve the eastwest link in central MumbaiMidnight blocks between Parel and Currey Road stationEarlier the Central Railway had on Wednesday announced special traffic and power blocks to facilitate the dismantling of panels of the Elphinstone Road Over Bridge ROBThe dismantling work by the authorities was being carried out between Parel railway station and Currey Road railway stationAs per the official statement the blocks were carried out over two consecutive nights April 23 and April 34 primarily during midnight hours to minimise disruption to suburban servicesThe block was implemented on the section between Byculla railway station excluding crossovers and Dadar railway station excluding platformsMidnight on April 3 ThursdayFriday services on the Up slow line and both UP and DOWN fast lines were affected from 1230 am to 430 amOn the following night April 34 FridaySaturday the block was imposed on the UP Fast line during the same time windowSeveral trains divertedDue to the block several longdistance trains were divertedOfficials had said that train number 11020 Konark Express was being diverted between Matunga and Byculla on both nights and will halt twice at Dadar stationAdditionally on the night of April 34 12810 HowrahCSMT Mail and 12134 MangaluruCSMT Express was diverted on the same route with a double halt at DadarCentral Railway had also urged the commuters to plan their journeys accordingly during the period