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Bombay High Court Delays Elphinstone Bridge Demolition, Orders MMRDA to Address Resident Concerns

The court directed MMRDA to consider objections and prioritize in-situ redevelopment for 19 affected buildings, further postponing the Worli-Sewri connector project.

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Mumbai, India. Apr 25, 2025: Residents of Prabhadevi demonstrated by blocking the Elphinstone Bridge in protest against the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The MMRDA plans to close the Elphinstone Railway Over Bridge to motorists starting on April 25, 2025, to construct the Worli-Sewree MTHL connector and redevelop the bridge in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)
Residents of Prabhadevi fear work on the elevated connector will damage their buildings (Hindustan Times)
The Elphinstone bridge was supposed to be closed to traffic from Monday. But on Friday, residents of the remaining 17 buildings staged a protest, fearing damage to their buildings during construction work (Hindustan Times)

Overview

  • The Bombay High Court has mandated MMRDA to hear objections from residents before proceeding with the demolition of the Elphinstone flyover for the Sewri-Worli connector project.
  • The Maharashtra government has committed to redeveloping 19 affected buildings on-site under a cluster redevelopment model, ensuring residents return to their original location.
  • Residents of two directly impacted buildings will be temporarily relocated to Kurla, but they have rejected the plan, citing concerns over disruption to livelihoods and schooling.
  • The project faces delays as MMRDA must complete the mandated redevelopment and address public grievances before starting bridge construction.
  • Slum dwellers affected by the Sewri-Worli connector have also demanded in-situ rehabilitation, referencing the precedent set by the Elphinstone redevelopment plan.