Work on Mumbai’s first cable-stayed bridge, being constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the Mahalaxmi railway tracks, has reached 45 per cent completion. Originally scheduled for completion in March 2024, the project has faced delays due to encroachments and tree relocation, with the new target set for December 2026.

At the heart of the design is a 70-metre-high pylon, serving as the bridge’s primary support structure. Once operational, the bridge will ease congestion near Mahalaxmi station and enhance east–west connectivity for motorists heading toward the Coastal Road from Haji Ali.

The bridge will start from the Racecourse side along Keshavrao Khadye (KK) Marg in the west, cross the Western Railway tracks, and conclude near Shirin Talkies on the eastern stretch of KK Marg. The BMC awarded the work order in January 2020, with construction beginning the following month.

Given the 165-metre span across the railway lines, a conventional bridge design was not feasible. The civic body therefore opted for a cable-stayed structure, representing a first-of-its-kind engineering initiative by the BMC.

The 736-metre-long bridge includes a 165-metre cable-stayed span, an 85-metre back span, and a 23-metre-wide deck accommodating four traffic lanes.

Estimated to cost Rs 3.89 billion, the bridge will replace the existing structure, which will be dismantled once the new bridge becomes operational, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity during the construction phase.