Elphinstone Bridge Closure: Protests Erupt Over Demolition Of Residential Buildings For Sewri-Worli Connector

Mumbai: The iconic British-era Elphinstone Bridge was scheduled to be closed for traffic from 9 PM tonight as part of the infrastructure redevelopment plans. However, authorities preemptively shut down traffic on both routes of the bridge at around 8:40 PM.

The bridge is set to be demolished to make way for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) ambitious Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector Project. As part of this project, two adjacent residential buildings—Haji Noorani and Laxmi Niwas—are also slated for demolition, triggering unrest among the residents.

Raising concerns over the lack of clarity on their rehabilitation, affected locals took to the streets in protest. They have blocked one of the key access roads leading to Parel’s KEM Hospital.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police Anil Kumbhare assured that both the MMRDA and the local police would address the concerns. Zone V Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ganesh Gawade added that police personnel have been deployed at the site and that any decisions regarding bridge closures would be taken by the traffic department as needed.