Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 12: The iconic Elphinstone Bridge, linking Parel and Prabhadevi, will shut from 11.59 pm tonight to pave the way for the upcoming Elphinstone Flyover and the 4.5 km Worli–Sewri connector.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has approved in situ rehabilitation for 83 residents of Laxmi Niwas and Haji Noorani Chawl, who will be allotted MHADA flats in the same locality.

Traffic diversions have been announced. Vehicles between Dadar East–West will move via Tilak Bridge, while Parel–Prabhadevi–Lower Parel routes will be regulated through Curry Road and Chinchpokli bridges in time slots. On Mahadev Palav Road, one-way restrictions will apply in shifts through the day.

To ease patient movement, MMRDA has stationed ambulances at Parel and Prabhadevi stations, along with wheelchairs.

Earlier, MMRDA’s plan to shift families temporarily to Kurla faced resistance, but Shinde’s clearance has ended the deadlock. Under the policy, units under 300 sq ft will get 405 sq ft tenements, while larger units will receive existing area plus 35% extra.

The realignment of the project spared 17 of 19 initially affected buildings, saving nearly Rs 5,200 crore in resettlement costs. Once complete, the connector will link the Coastal Road to the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, cutting travel time between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.