Mumbai Set For Traffic Easing As Reconstructed Carnac Bunder Bridge Opens This Week

The newly reconstructed Carnac Bunder Bridge at Masjid Bunder is finally set to open for vehicular traffic this week, following a crucial clearance from Central Railway on Tuesday. The bridge is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in South Mumbai once operational.

The original 154-year-old bridge, constructed in 1868, was demolished in November 2022 after a structural audit deemed it unsafe. Serving as a key connector between South Mumbai and the eastern suburbs - including vital links to the Eastern Freeway and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link - the bridge had been closed to heavy vehicles since 2014 due to its deteriorating condition.

The rebuilding process faced repeated delays, attributed mainly to ongoing work on the nearby Hancock Bridge and challenges related to local encroachments. After multiple extensions, the main structure was finally completed on June 10, and a load test was successfully carried out on June 15. The final hurdle, the Railway No Objection Certificate (NOC), was granted this Tuesday, paving the way for the bridge's reopening.

According to Abhijeet Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), the bridge is now ready for public use. The new structure has been built at a cost of Rs 60 crore, featuring a 70-metre-long and 9.5-metre-wide steel superstructure. Unlike the previous two-lane bridge, the upgraded version will support four vehicular lanes, promising smoother and faster movement through one of the city's most congested areas.