Carnac Bridge Update: South Mumbai’s Lifeline Set To Reopen After A Decade Of Delays

Carnac Bridge, one of the first bridges built across railway tracks in India, is set to reopen to traffic in just a few months, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. After being declared unsafe and closed for more than a decade, the revamped bridge will be inaugurated on June 10.

Originally built in 1868, Carnac Bridge was closed to heavy vehicles in 2014 after being declared unsafe. Despite the urgency, progress on its reconstruction was slow. An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that although work orders were issued in 2017, the project saw no real progress, leading to a delay and increased costs.

It wasn't until 2018, following the collapse of the Gokhale Bridge in Andheri, that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began serious work on the new bridge. The focus on bridge safety increased after the Andheri mishap, with audits of city bridges by IIT-Bombay bringing Carnac Bridge back into the spotlight. However, the project continued to face delays.

The BMC faced several challenges, including difficulties in securing a traffic NOC and dealing with land encroachments around the bridge. These issues delayed the start of reconstruction until 2022, when the bridge was finally demolished. The demolition process was a massive operation, involving over 500 workers, 50 gas cutters, and four large cranes.

Despite these efforts, the bridge's rebuilding was further delayed due to the presence of illegal structures on both sides of the bridge, including temples, gymnasiums, and a traffic police chowki. These obstructions had to be cleared before construction could proceed.

In January, a major hurdle occurred when a massive 400-tonne girder was being moved into place. The girder was suspended in mid-air for several hours, leading to a near-mishap. This incident led to further delays, with work only being completed two days later.

With the chief minister pushing for its completion, the BMC now claims that the bridge will be ready before the monsoon season, bringing much-needed relief to commuters in South Mumbai. The bridge's reopening will mark the end of a long and complicated journey, restoring an important east-west connection for the city.