Mumbai`s iconic Elphinstone bridge, long at the centre of debate and protests, is now history after overnight demolition works. In just a few hours, the structure was rendered unusable, cutting off both vehicular and pedestrian access.
The demolition, originally scheduled for midnight Friday, was advanced by two hours and began around 10 pm. By morning, the once-busy connector had been reduced to rubble, leaving residents and commuters stranded.
Senior Inspector Kanhaiyalal Shinde of Dadar Traffic Police confirmed the closure. “Pedestrians can use service roads on either side. Our aim was to completely halt vehicular traffic, so we carried out the work at night,” he said.
Two JCB excavators being used to dismantle the iconic bridge. Pic/Ashish Raje
Three JCB machines worked through the night to dismantle the bridge, while traffic police, local police, and Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel were deployed to prevent law-and-order issues.
For locals, the sudden pace of demolition was a shock. Despite weeks of emails, meetings, and protests, residents had hoped authorities would delay the closure until an alternative was ready. “We kept pleading, we kept protesting, but the bridge was torn down before our eyes,” said a resident.
The closure is expected to disrupt thousands of daily commuters. The bridge was a crucial connector between Dadar, Elphinstone, and nearby areas. With diversions already in place, residents fear long-term chaos until a replacement is built.
What stings most, many said, was the abruptness. Officials had claimed discussions were ongoing, yet demolition squads moved in overnight and finished the job.
With Deputy CM Eknath Shinde approving the proposal to rehabilitate residents of 83 rooms from Haaji Noorani and Lakshmi Nivas on Thursday night, occupants of 17 other nearby buildings — also at risk from the demolition of the Elphinstone bridge — are now anxious about their future.
“On Thursday, officials told us that instead of shifting us temporarily to MHADA transit houses, they will give us new homes in nearby areas, with 35 per cent larger carpet area than our current homes. But why should we leave this prime location and the houses built by our ancestors? We have full rights over this land, and we must be given redeveloped houses here itself,” said Munaf Thakur, secretary of Haaji Noorani building.
For residents of the remaining 17 buildings, uncertainty looms large. “Are these officials uneducated? Don’t they understand collateral damage? If they start drilling the bridge for demolition, won’t the shockwaves from heavy machinery hit our buildings too? Some of the buildings are over 125 years old. Can they withstand such pressure?” asked 72-year-old Dilip Kambli of Veera Building.
Naresh Yadav, 64, of Divera House, added, “Developers avoid us because of the railway line nearby. Our buildings are more than 100 years old, yet we are not even allowed to carry out repairs. MHADA served dangerous-building notices to Haaji Noorani and Lakshmi Nivas but conveniently skipped our homes. Are our buildings magically safe? As per the plan, the upper deck of the new bridge will be four lanes, but the lower will remain two lanes. It won’t solve traffic issues for locals — it’ll only benefit the rich using the MTHL, sealink, and this bridge. Bottlenecks at both ends will remain.”
Ramesh Vaikul, 77, of Paawala Building, questioned the cost logic: “MMRDA claims it saved Rs 5200 crore by dropping us from the rehabilitation plan. But they had to increase their project cost anyway when they changed the design. Who are they fooling?”
Residents also alleged harassment by authorities. “Officials don’t agree with each other, and even the CM’s words are ignored. We know the city needs infrastructure, but should it come at the cost of hundreds of lives?” said Shabana Shaikh of Vaani House.
VOICES
Dilip Kambli, resident, Veera Building
‘Are these officials uneducated? Don’t they understand collateral damage? If they start drilling the bridge for demolition, won’t the shockwaves from heavy machinery hit our buildings too? Some of the buildings are over 125 years old. Can they withstand such pressure?’
Shabana Shaikh, resident, Vaani House
‘Officials don’t agree with each other, and even the CM’s words are ignored. We know the city needs infrastructure, but should it come at the cost of hundreds of lives?’
Naresh Yadav, resident, Divera House
‘Developers avoid us because of the railway line nearby. Our buildings are more than 100 years old, yet we are not even allowed to carry out repairs. MHADA served dangerous-building notices to Haaji Noorani and Lakshmi Nivas but conveniently skipped our homes’
Ramesh Vaikul, resident, Paawala Building
‘MMRDA claims it saved Rs 5200 crore by dropping us from the rehabilitation plan. But they had to increase their project cost anyway when they changed the design. Who are they fooling?’
