Mumbai's Elphinstone Bridge Girders Dismantled in Strategic Night Operations
In a meticulously planned operation, two massive girders of the ageing Elphinstone Bridge in Mumbai were successfully dismantled during short night railway blocks. This strategic approach aims to avoid prolonged disruptions to train services while progressing with the bridge's demolition to make way for the Sewri-Worli connector project.
Precision Night Work Under Tight Deadlines
At approximately 1:30 AM on Tuesday, soon after the last local train passed through Prabhadevi station, intensive activity commenced beneath the Elphinstone Bridge. Workers from MahaRail and Western Railway collaborated during a two-hour forty-five-minute block to dismantle and remove the second significant girder of the structure. This followed a similar operation conducted the previous Saturday night for the north-end girder.
The task involved cutting and lifting a 26-tonne steel girder spanning 32 metres above the slow tracks on the south side of the Western Railway. While preparatory cutting had been completed earlier, final sections were removed during this critical night window. "Now that we have the experience of removing the north-end girder, we know the play-by-play of steps," explained an engineer from the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation present at the site.
Overcoming Technical Challenges with Overhead Equipment
One of the primary challenges faced during the dismantling process was the limited clearance between the bridge and the overhead electrical equipment. Teams from MahaRail and its contractor Space Chem Engineers Pvt Ltd focused on cutting the girder ends, while Western Railway staff worked simultaneously on the overhead wires.
"What makes the task more challenging and lengthy was that the distance between the bridge and the top overhead wire is not enough. Hence, the top wire was interconnected and looped with the bridge," the engineer detailed. "As a solution, just as we're working on dismantling the bridge, WR is fixing up the OHE."
By 2:30 AM, most of the girder had been cut and was supported by a crane positioned 15 metres above the tracks. Through coordinated efforts using walkie-talkies, weight transfer was gradually increased. At around 2:50 AM, the girder was finally detached, suspended in mid-air. Workers then guided the metal span using ropes, rotating it ninety degrees to align with the tracks before moving it out of the railway premises.
Efficient Completion and Service Restoration
Approximately ninety minutes after the block began, the girder was fully removed. Western Railway teams promptly restored the overhead equipment, allowing the block to conclude at 4:05 AM. Train services resumed by 4:30 AM, minimizing disruption to commuters.
This removal marks the completion of bridge dismantling over the slow tracks of the Western Railway, though significant portions of the structure remain. The 112-year-old Elphinstone Bridge was closed in September to facilitate the Sewri-Worli connector, raising concerns about extended railway disruptions.
Strategic Approach to Avoid Prolonged Shutdowns
By breaking demolition work into smaller night blocks, MRIDC aims to avoid a full twelve-hour railway shutdown and complete the project by the end of February. "Demolition of the bridge is going faster over the WR tracks, for which we've had 16 blocks till now," the MRIDC engineer stated. "Except for one eight-hour block in early January which did not go as planned, two have been of 4 hours, and the rest shorter."
A twelve-hour railway block would require approval from the Railway Board in Delhi and could take at least two weeks, significantly affecting both local and long-distance train services. Officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority noted that most work is being carried out during regular night corridor blocks and weekend megablocks.
"MMRDA had demanded three railway blocks of 15 hours, but that was rejected due to the massive impact and loss," an official revealed. "So now work is being carried out in the night blocks, with chunks being pre-cut, prepared, and lifted up when the city sleeps."
Upcoming Phases and Future Plans
In the coming week, work on the Western Railway side will focus on cutting the removed girder into smaller sections, demolishing the abutment, and clearing the shed at the west end to allow cranes to advance. This will be followed by dismantling seven steel floor spans and two additional girders, requiring another 22 short railway blocks.
On the Central Railway side, 12 blocks have already been utilized, with nine more requested. "Due to the complications with the OHE wires, our hope is to demonstrate to CR that it is possible to extract the girders bit by bit and have the railways carry out the OHE work simultaneously, as we managed to do on the WR," the engineer explained. "If they get on board with the plan, we may be able to forgo the need of the final 12-hour block and complete in short stints."
This phased, night-time approach underscores a commitment to balancing infrastructure development with minimal public inconvenience, showcasing innovative engineering solutions in one of India's busiest metropolitan regions.
