Journalism of Courage

Changing City: BMC’s first cable-stayed bridge in Mahalaxmi

According to Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), the overall construction and ancillary works associated with the bridge are proposed to be completed by November 30, 2026.

Written by Nayonika Bose
Mumbai | Updated: September 19, 2025 10:15 PM IST

3 min read

While the project was previously expected to be completed by March 2024, it has faced delays due to the presence of encroachments and trees along the alignment. (Source: BMC/Express Photos)

In what will serve as one of the crucial links leading to the coastal road, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is constructing its first-ever cable-stayed bridge over the Mahalaxmi railway tracks. Earlier this week, senior civic officials reviewed ongoing construction of the 70-metre-high pylon to support the cable-stayed Mahalaxmi road overbridge.

The project

With the aim of decongesting traffic, the proposal for a new Mahalaxmi bridge was cleared by the civic standing committee, after which the BMC issued work orders in January 2020, and the construction commenced by February that year. Since it was a crucial link in south Mumbai, the old structure could be demolished only after the new bridge is ready.

Running a length of 736 metres, the bridge will commence from the Race course side along the Keshavrao Khadye Marg in the west, run across the Western Railway tracks, and land near the Shirin Talkies, which is located on the eastern side of the Keshavrao Khadye Marg.

This is the first time that the BMC has taken up the cudgels to execute a bridge of the cable-stayed design over railway tracks on its own. Since the length of the span across railway tracks is 165 metres, conventional bridge design was deemed difficult, paving the way for the BMC to opt for a cable-stayed structure.

This is the first time that the BMC has taken up the cudgels to execute a bridge of the cable-stayed design over railway tracks on its own. (Source: BMC/Express Photos)

Alignment

The total length of the bridge is 736 metres, of which the cable-stay portion spans a length of 165 metres and has a back span of 85 metres.

The bridge has a width of 23 metres and has four lanes.

Cost

Rs 389.7 crore.

Timeline of the project

While the project was previously expected to be completed by March 2024, it has faced delays due to the presence of encroachments and trees along the alignment. Furthermore, the civic body also had to make changes to its initial designs after several crucial utilities like water channels, sewer and stormwater drain lines, BEST cables, etc, were identified along the alignment.

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At present, the civic body is constructing a 70-metre-high pylon which will serve as the support of the cable-stayed bridge. Work on this segment is expected to be completed by January 2026. According to BMC, work on the span on the western side of the pylon is currently underway and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Meanwhile, work on the eastern side of the pylon on the railway section will be kicked off in January 2026 and executed in its entirety by September 2026. During this period, the civic body will launch works on the construction of approach roads.

Officials speak

According to Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), the overall construction and ancillary works associated with the bridge are proposed to be completed by November 30, 2026.

“The BMC is working in full swing with a target of completing the Mahalaxmi bridge works by 2026 end. Once this connectivity is established, it will be useful in partial decongestion of the existing Mahalaxmi ROB. Furthermore, it will also serve as one of the links leading up to the coastal road,” an official told The Indian Express.

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