Mumbai’s worst traffic nightmare is here – snarls, delays, bus diversions to commuters’ hassles, as expected, the shutting of the Elphinstone road overbridge (ROB) from September 12 has brought it all.
The ROB is being demolished to make way for the upcoming Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector, which will connect the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the under-construction Coastal Road with the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) or Atal Setu.
#WATCH Mumbai: Demolition of Elphinstone Bridge at Prabhadevi railway station begins.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will demolish the Elphinstone Bridge and construct a new Elphinstone flyover and Sewri-Worli elevated connector flyover in its… pic.twitter.com/8H6142kEW7
— ANI (@ANI) September
12, 2025
Sion-Dadar, Navi Mumbai to Parel: Mumbai’s traffic nightmare after Elphinstone ROB shutdown
The ROB passes over two railway stations — Prabhadevi (Western Railway) and Parel (Central Railway). It is used by 500,000-700,000 commuters daily. The bridge is in the middle several buildings and offices.
According to commuters on social media, a ride from Sion to Dadar that used to take 15 minutes has stretched to over an hour. The journey from Navi Mumbai to Parel, which used to previously about 45 minutes, takes close to two hours.
Also Read: Mumbai’s Elphinstone Bridge Shut: Motorists Can Cross Dadar, Parel, Worli Using These Routes
Tilak Bridge, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Currey Road, Chinchpokli, and Gokhale Road are now the new bottlenecks.
The FPJ reported Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare as saying that the authorities have assigned 100 traffic wardens across three shifts, 50 extra police personnel, and 25 jawans from the Maharashtra Security Force to try to manage the diversions.
In view of the demolition of the Elphinstone Bridge by @MMRDAOfficial to make way for the new Elphinstone Flyover and the Seweri Worli Elevated Connector Flyover, the following traffic management will be in place from 23.59 hrs on 12th September 2025.#MTPtrafficUpdates pic.twitter.com/QIvzLBp4dZ
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) September 12, 2025
Bus routes diverted, bus fares to increase after Elphinstone ROB shutdown
A total of 11 BEST and MSRTC bus routes have either been curtailed or diverted, according to reports.
Most affected routes: A-162, A-168, A-177, and 201, which are bypassing the bridge route or terminating earlier than before, are seeing complaints of lengthier detours online.
Rerouted buses: Buses that previously crossed Currey Road Bridge, including routes 14, 57, 44, 52, 50, 162, and 168, are now rerouted through Chinchpokli Bridge. However, commuters on social media complain of lack of clarity at bus stops and confusion about revised schedules and halts.
The increased distance would also lead to a change in fare structure for MSRTC buses, said reports.
One word to Describe DADAR TILAK BRIDGE since yesterday is
GRIDLOCKAbsolute chaos…. Shutting the #ElphinstoneBridge without any viable alternative is absolute Senseless.
It was already overburdened after the Sion bridge closure.@MTPHereToHelp… pic.twitter.com/hr1RGz476Y
— मुंबई Matters™🇮🇳 (@mumbaimatterz) September 14, 2025
Double trouble for Currey Road after Elphinstone ROB shutdown
News18 had highlighted how those coming from Parel East to Prabhadevi and Lower Parel, can use the Currey Road Bridge between 7 am and 3pm. Those heading from Prabhadevi and Lower Parel to Parel, TATA Hospital, and KEM Hospital, can use the Currey Road Bridge between 3 pm and 11 pm.
So, effectively, different parts of the bridge are one-way at different times of the day, which will mean more confusion and traffic chaos.
Also Read: Why Elphinstone ROB Shutdown Means Double Trouble For Mumbai’s Currey Road Bridge Travellers
The bridgeis in the middle several buildings and offices. It is surrounded by residential areas and schools, and hospitals like the Tata Memorial Hospital and KEM Hospital, which are frequented by tens of thousands of people daily. All this traffic now comes on to Currey Road bridge.
Parts of Mahadev Palav Road, Sane Guruji Road, and others, have been declared no-parking zones to prevent traffic jams.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Demolition begins on 100-year-old British-era Elphinstone Bridge, which connects Parel and Prabhadevi. Under the Sewri–Worli Elevated Connector Project, a new double-decker bridge will be built in its place pic.twitter.com/4F4EZjUfcK
— IANS (@ians_india) September 13, 2025
What will come in place of Elphinstone ROB?
The existing Elphinstone ROB is 13 metres wide and accommodates only 1.5 lanes of traffic in each direction. The dismantling will make way for a modern double-decker structure that is expected to significantly improve the east-west connectivity in the metropolis. The first level of the new double-decker bridge will feature a 2+2 lane carriageway for traffic between Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and Senapati Bapat Road, while the second level will accommodate a 2+2 lane carriageway for traffic heading from the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL).
The Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector will be 4.5-km long, and have four-lane (2+2) carriageways. It will link MTHL with BWSL, which is a key connection between the city’s northern and southern coastal roads on the west coast.
With PTI inputs
