Western Railway to rebuild foot overbridge at Lower Parel station in Mumbai

An inspection by a team formed after last year’s stampede at Elphinstone Road found that the bridge was taking additional load, and can be dangerous for passengers.

The western railway (WR) plans to replace the existing bridge on the north-end of the Lower Parel station that connects to the Delisle road overbridge with a new bridge. The new bridge is likely to be ready by March 2019, after which the existing bridge will be dismantled.

The Delisle Bridge at Lower Parel Road in Mumbai. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

The north-end of the foot overbridge is preferred by most commuters.

The inspection by a team, formed after last year’s stampede at Elphinstone Road, found the bridge was taking additional load, and can be dangerous for passengers.

The team suggested construction of a bridge on the north end of the station.

“The bridge is taking more load than it is supposed to. Passengers coming to Lower Parel and also heading to the central railway use the bridge. It is beyond maintenance and needs reconstruction,” said a senior WR official, on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Dismantling the bridge will take three months, while the reconstruction will take seven months. A booking office on the bridge too will be pulled
down.

“The construction has been sanctioned and the work will begin soon,” said Sanjay Mishra, divisional railway manager, western railway.

Delisle ROB was shut for vehicular and pedestrian traffic on July 24, after an inspection of IIT Bombay experts, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and railway officials termed the bridge unfit for
use.

However, after a joint inspection by the railways, BMC and people’s representatives, the pedestrian pathway of the bridge heading towards the station was opened.