Mumbai’s 78-year-old Ghatkopar rail overbridge (ROB), a vital east-west connector, is set for demolition and replacement with a modern, wider structure. However, the project’s completion has been pushed back from 2025-end to June 2027, frustrating daily commuters already battling congestion.

Flagged for reconstruction after the 2018 Gokhale Bridge collapse, the Ghatkopar Rail Overbridge is being redeveloped by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), with funding from the BMC. The new design features a cable-stayed section over railway tracks and a bowstring steel span over LBS Road, strategically planned to minimise pillars and ease traffic movement.

At present, the old 2+2 lane bridge remains functional but under restrictions, forcing heavy vehicles and BEST buses to take long detours via Amar Mahal, adding to daily congestion.

Once the new bridge's right-hand lanes are ready, expected next year, traffic will be diverted there, allowing demolition of the existing structure to begin. The upgraded bridge will offer a wider, smoother link between LBS Marg and the Eastern Express Highway.

For now, Mumbai's eastern suburbs brace for two more years of snarls before the upgrade delivers smoother commutes