Despite earlier assurances that the historic elements of the century-old Elphinstone bridge would be carefully preserved, the original cast-iron plaque bearing the 1913 date and builder’s details has been damaged during demolition work, our report said.

The plaque was one of the last surviving artefacts linking the bridge to Mumbai’s early 20th-century railway heritage. Officials had previously stated that the plaque would be safely removed and restored before dismantling began. However, on-site sources confirmed that the plate was struck and fractured by contractors’ machinery while demolishing the stone abutment. Heritage enthusiasts and local residents have expressed dismay, calling it a “careless loss of history” amid the rush to clear the structure for the new double-deck bridge project.