Mumbai: Mumbai’s next big infrastructure leap is steadily taking shape in steel and concrete. The 4.5-km Sewri–Worli connector—the missing link between the eastern waterfront and the city’s western corridors—is now 62 per cent complete and slated for commissioning by end-2026.
At its heart is a first-of-its-kind double-decker bridge rising over active railway lines, a feat that has required dismantling a 112-year-old structure and orchestrating one of the most complex and challenging engineering operations the city has seen in recent years. The bridge is expected to be complete by September 2026.
According to the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MahaRail), which is executing the rail overbridge, the toughest task is dismantling the 112-year-old Elphinstone Bridge that connected east and west Mumbai. The 132-metre rail overbridge is being taken down using two 800-metric-tonne cranes.
Because it spans active railway tracks, months of planning preceded the dismantling, which began in September and is now in full swing. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the nodal agency for the project, said the old bridge is being removed using the “pull-push” method, allowing sections to be carefully shifted and dismantled without disrupting train operations.
MMRDA officials said another major challenge has been assembling and erecting a 3,000-metric-tonne steel superstructure over live tracks while ensuring passenger safety and uninterrupted rail services.
“This ambitious project is not just about infrastructure—it’s about connecting lives, cutting commute times and making Mumbai’s transport network more efficient,” an MMRDA official said.
The Sewri–Worli connector will provide direct access between the Atal Setu and the Bandra Worli Sea Link, and link seamlessly to the Mumbai Coastal Road. The project is expected to channel traffic smoothly from western Mumbai to Atal Setu and onwards to Navi Mumbai.
The new double-decker bridge will replace the old structure. Both decks will have two lanes in each direction. The lower deck will cater to east–west and local traffic, while the upper deck will offer direct connectivity to Atal Setu.
The connector is also crucial for faster access to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.
MMRDA estimates traffic from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and Coastal Road towards Atal Setu could rise 15–20 per cent, boosting toll revenues on the sea link.
Currently, commute between Worli and Sewri takes about an hour. With the completion of the connector, the time will be reduced to 15-20 mins.
Commuters from Navi Mumbai heading towards central Mumbai or western suburbs will get a seamless, traffic free, signal-free commute by using Atal Setu, then the connector, then either to Western suburbs via the Bandra Worli Sealink or to South Mumbai via the Coastal road, essentially saving a lot of time, the MMRDA said.
The project will cost over Rs 1,000 crore.
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The super connector
First conceptualised in 2013 to strengthen east–west connectivity and support what was then the proposed Nhava Sheva link (now Atal Setu), the Sewri–Worli connector gained momentum in 2016 as plans for Atal Setu advanced. Construction finally began in 2021.
However, the century-old Elphinstone Bridge proved to be the biggest hurdle. Securing permission to shut it to traffic was difficult, and the move faced resistance from local residents. The bridge was initially scheduled to close in February 2025, but protests delayed the process, with residents claiming they had not been informed about the dismantling and demanded rehabilitation in the same area.
The bridge was eventually closed in September 2025, and dismantling commenced soon after. MahaRail officials said the process is underway and expected to conclude by September 2026, though they declined to share detailed progress updates.
Once demolition is complete, authorities expect the pace of construction to accelerate significantly.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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