The Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), also known as Maha Rail, recently came up with a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Indian Railways. The venture is looking to construct cable-stayed bridges, much like the Bandra-Worli sea link, all across Mumbai. 

17 bridges to be constructed

Maha Rail has been asked to construct a total of 17 road over bridges (ROBs), including 15 that BMC has approached them with and 2 for which an MoU has been signed with MMRDA, in Mumbai. The bridges will be built at both Central as well as Western Railways. 

According to reports, tenders have been approached for the enlisting of consultants for the structural and architectural design that will help in rebuilding the old ROBs in the suburban area. Some of the ROBs include the ones at Byculla, Frere bridge (Grant Road), Ollivant bridge (Mazgaon), Mahalaxmi, Bellasis Raod (Mumbai Central), Currey Road, Tilak bridge, Reay Road, to name a few.

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Demolition to happen only after the construction of the new bridge

An official from MRIDC said that they are looking at consultants who specialize in designing of cable-stayed bridges. He also added that these will come up only depending on whether or not it's feasible. While talking about the public, he said that the MRIDC were aware of the inconvenience that demolishing the existing ROBs would cause people. Therefore, the plan was to construct the new ROB right above the old one and then demolish the old one when the new one is ready.

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Mumbaikars are already facing a lot of trouble ever since the complete demolition of Delisle bridge in Lower Parel, earlier this year. It has caused a lot of traffic trouble for motorists who have to take a detour. It is a sure shot that if similar demolitions take place at various other places, it will adversely affect the routine lives of the people in Mumbai.

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The idea has supposedly come up owing to the tensile strength and aesthetic aspect of cable-stayed bridges. All these ROBs are more than 100 years old and are very important to the city. According to reports, few of them have now become weak and need to be demolished as a precautionary method to avoid any untoward incident.

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