Not experts: Court on plea against demolition of British-era bridge in Mumbai

India Today

29-04-2025

The Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to hear from a Mumbai-based estate consultant, who had approached the court seeking directions to cancel the plans to demolish the British-era bridge at Prabhadevi or what is also known as the Elphinstone Bridge.The Elphinstone Bridge is a two-lane bridge which, according to the MMRDA, was to shut for two years to be demolished as it will be replaced with a double-decker flyover called the Sewree-Worli connector. The new flyover will link Atal Setu on the city's eastern shores with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on the western coast.advertisementA bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik remarked that neither they nor the petitioner were experts in the field of infrastructural development for the larger public good. Hence, they left the matter to the expertise of MMRDA to decide.
The petitioner, PV Katre, sought that the adjoining Tilak Bridge at Dadar should be built first before the connector at Prabhadevi is demolished. He submitted that the existing Elphinston Bridge connects Prabhadevi to the Parel area, which has major hospitals, including the Tata Cancer hospital.He also contended that the design of the proposed connector was faulty because the upper-level deck of the connector did not come with an exit anywhere between Worli and Sewri.The petitioner argued that he had made a representation to MMRDA, but received no response.advertisementHowever, the bench asked Katre to make a representation again and told MMRDA's counsel to look into the grievances of the public as it is bound to do so being a public body.The Sewree-Worli Connector plan has witnessed protests by people residing in areas near to the bridge and prompted the state government to assure the inhabitants that they would be resettled in the same locality.Protesters say that the closure of the bridge will likely cause severe disruption, inconvenience and traffic congestion due to the presence of several large hospitals in the area.In the past two decades, mill lands have been converted into malls and office complexes. For this project, the traffic department also put across an elaborate road diversion plan.The bench said, "Ultimately, you have been constituted for the benefit of the people. You are a public body. You have to look into his grievances. He is entitled to his grievance. He may have some valuable suggestions. At least hear him. It is for people like him only that you are constructing the bridge."The bench gave Katre three days to make his representation to the MMRDA and directed the authorities to take cognisance of it.
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