Despite facing delays, Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is determined to meet the March 2025 deadline for the completion of the Carnac Bunder Bridge. The civic officials have announced that girder launching is likely to begin in October 2024, contingent on securing a six-hour mega block from the Central Railway (CR) to carry out this critical phase of the construction. The girder, a 70-meter-long and 9.5-meter-wide structure, has already been assembled, but the monsoon season has hindered progress, as CR has withheld mega block approvals during this period.
The bridge, located between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Masjid Bunder railway station, is crucial for the local infrastructure. After the 160-year-old Carnac Bunder Bridge was declared unsafe by IIT Bombay, it was closed for traffic in September 2022 and dismantled in November 2022. Construction on the new bridge began in 2023, with an estimated budget of ₹53 crore.
The delays have significantly impacted the surrounding areas, including Mohammad Ali Road and Wadi Bunder, leading to disruptions in both vehicular and pedestrian movement. The wholesale market in the Carnac Bunder area, a vital commercial hub, has also suffered as visitors now face longer travel routes.
BMC officials remain optimistic, with additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar emphasizing the corporation’s commitment to providing any necessary safety documentation to CR to expedite the process. As the city awaits the mega block approval in October, the pressure mounts on the BMC to ensure the bridge’s completion by the 2025 deadline, which is crucial for restoring normalcy in one of Mumbai’s key commercial zones.