Advertisement
When should a housing society in Mumbai start considering re...
From GST on JDAs to SEBI’s REIT reclassification and the S...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
The Bellasis Bridge, a vital east-west link in South Mumbai, may reopen by December 2025-six months ahead of its original June 2026 deadline. Jointly undertaken by BMC and Western Railway with a INR 114 crore budget, the 360-metre bridge near Mumbai Central is being rebuilt after being declared unsafe and demolished in 2024. The six-lane connector is crucial for traffic between Tardeo and Nagpada. Early tenders and inter-agency coordination enabled the fast-tracked timeline. While the project boosts urban mobility, it faces resistance from local fisherfolk over rehabilitation concerns.
In a promising development for South Mumbai's overburdened transport network, the Bellasis Bridge reconstruction project may beat its deadline by six months, potentially opening as early as December 2025, well ahead of its scheduled June 2026 target. Advertisement
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is spearheading the reconstruction of this crucial east-west connector, which links Tardeo to Nagpada. Once complete, it is expected to significantly ease vehicular congestion in the city's inner core.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1893, had served Mumbai for over a century before being declared unsafe and demolished in June 2024 after years of traffic strain and structural degradation.
Located near Mumbai Central station, the Bellasis Bridge was a vital link for motorists navigating the congested south Mumbai corridor. The 360-meter-long connector carried thousands of vehicles daily and was an indispensable route for those commuting from residential hubs like Tardeo and Grant Road to Nagpada and beyond.
The project is being jointly undertaken by BMC and Western Railway, with a total budget of over INR 114 crore - INR 74.46 crore from the BMC and INR 40 crore from the railway authorities.
The bridge will feature six lanes (3+3) to accommodate increasing traffic volumes. Its replacement comes amid a broader push across Mumbai to upgrade outdated infrastructure - a list that also includes the Gokhale Bridge, Carnac Bridge, and Delisle Bridge, all undergoing reconstruction in parallel.
Interestingly, although work was only scheduled to start in mid-2025, the two civic bodies have already begun preparatory work, with actual construction expected to begin by June 2024. This could allow the bridge to be completed by December 2025, six months earlier than the current target.
Sources in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation noted that the revised timeline was possible due to early tender approvals and coordination between the civic and railway departments.
A similar fast-tracked execution was seen with the Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, where after years of delay, BMC aligned timelines with the railway department to avoid traffic snags during festive and school seasons.
The demolition and reconstruction work has raised concerns among local fisherfolk, who claim that the area near the bridge is a traditional fishing zone. However, BMC officials maintain that only 8 out of the 27 affected families possess valid licenses to fish and occupy the space, complicating rehabilitation or compensation efforts.
While civic officials stated that those without valid documents may not be eligible for rehabilitation, the situation reflects wider tensions in Mumbai's urban development projects - where infrastructure growth often comes at the cost of informal livelihoods.
The BMC currently has 20+ bridges either under construction or in planning stages, as the city prepares for its next phase of urban growth. With major developments like the Coastal Road, Mumbai Metro expansion, and trans-harbour link, ensuring seamless last-mile connectivity becomes even more critical.
If Bellasis Bridge is completed ahead of time, it will offer a rare example of proactive infrastructure delivery in Mumbai, a city often plagued by delayed civic projects.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
