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Changing City: By year-end, new cable-stayed Belasis Bridge likely to ease traffic between Nagpada, Tardeo

The new Belasis Bridge is expected to bring down peak-hour travel time between Nagpada and Tardeo from 20 minutes to 5-7 minutes.

Once the new bridge becomes operational, it will ease traffic movement in areas like Tardeo, Mahalaxmi and Byculla, allowing seamless vehicular movement. (Express Photo)

A new cable-stayed Belasis Bridge is set to become operational in November to facilitate vehicular movement between Nagpada and Tardeo in south Mumbai.

What is the plan?

Belasis Bridge is one of the oldest east-west bridges in the city and is located in a congested area in south Mumbai. One of the key road over bridges (ROB) in south Mumbai, the old bridge was built in 1893. The earlier structure was a conventional ROB that was found to be structurally unstable in 2018. Following this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation mooted the proposal to demolish the bridge, and this was done in June last year.

Once the new bridge becomes operational, it will ease traffic movement in areas like Tardeo, Mahalaxmi and Byculla, allowing seamless vehicular movement. The travel time between Nagpada and Tardeo will also come down to 5-7 minutes, which otherwise takes more than 20 minutes during peak hours.

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Features and current status

The new bridge will be cable-stayed with six vehicular lanes – three times more than the existing structure – to allow more vehicles to pass at a given time. Underneath the bridge, an additional underpass will be built to facilitate citizens’ movement.

At present, construction work on the new bridge is underway, and civic authorities said that civil works have reached the halfway mark.

The earlier deadline for this bridge was set in June 2026, however, at the start of this year, this target was preponed to November 2025. (Express Photo)

Cost and timeline

The overall cost of the bridge has been pegged at Rs 110 crore, with the BMC paying Rs 70 crore, while the balance Rs 40 crore is being paid by the railways. The BMC has completed more than 65 per cent of the foundation work and is expecting to open the structure by the end of this year.

Administration speaks

“The primary reason why we are opting for cable-stayed bridges is to ensure that the project is completed at the earliest. The earlier deadline for this bridge was set in June 2026, however, at the start of this year, this target was preponed to November 2025, and we are eyeing to meet the target,” Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), said.

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

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