Mumbai bids farewell to 135-YO British-era bridge over Mithi river; WR installs steel girders

Mumbai’s Western Railway has successfully replaced the last remaining British-era cast iron rail bridge over the Mithi River, marking the end of an era in Indian Railways’ infrastructure. The 135-year-old bridge between Bandra and Mahim, built in 1888, was reconstructed with modern steel girders and reinforced concrete foundations over two phases, with the final work completed last weekend.

The critical upgrade was completed in two phases, with the final phase wrapping up on April 13. Over two nights, massive machinery and a 150-member crew dismantled the old CI abutments, installed new steel girders, and upgraded electrical and signalling systems. To protect the site from water ingress, coffer dams were constructed on both riverbanks, and machinery was transported via blocked train stabling lines due to lack of road access.

Due to the ongoing work, train speeds on the Bandra-Mahim stretch are currently limited to 20–30 km ph, expected to increase to 45 km ph by week’s end. Commuters can also expect a smoother ride across the bridge, with reduced jerks and enhanced safety. Officials say the project, completed before monsoon as promised, marks a new benchmark in rail infrastructure resilience.