The last span of the century-old Elphinstone Bridge was brought down on Sunday to pave the way for a double-deck connector, but the old structure’s plaques will be embedded in its replacement.
Quietly working behind the scenes with a push from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee — who helped get funds sanctioned for the endeavour— Sanjay Adhav of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Heritage Cell coordinated with MMRDA and Railways to save all the basalt stones and arches of the bridge. These were documented and numbered by a team of conservationists led by Rahul Chemburkar.
A plaque from the old structure. FILE PIC
mid-day has been following upon the journey of the plaque and the stones, which are in safe hands. The earlier example of such restoration is the use of pillars from the old Reay Road bridge, which are now living a second life in the August Kranti Maidan entry gate wall.
Adhav, executive engineer of the civic body’s heritage conservation department, said, “Stones and arches saved from Elphinstone bridge will be used appropriately for heritage conservation of old buildings and city infrastructure, while the plaques will be embedded in the new design of the bridge, and conservation architects are working on this.”
Preservation efforts
To preserve the two engraved foundation stones on Elphinstone Bridge, several discussions were held in various meetings between BMC and MMRDA officials, along with officers from STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd. A specialised expert agency was appointed for the dismantling and safe removal of these heritage stones. The stones were successfully retrieved and returned in safe condition to the senior division engineer of the Environment and Housekeeping Management Office of Central Railway (CR).
The spot in Parel over which the historic Elphinstone Bridge used to hang, on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje
Factoid
Elphinstone Bridge was named after Lord John Elphinstone, the nephew of the more famous Lord Mountstuart Elphinstone, the man after whom Elphinstone College in South Mumbai is named. Both Elphinstones served as Governors of Bombay in the 1800s, three decades apart.
‘These small acts of continuity matter’
Deepak Rao, city historian
‘Elphinstone Bridge was built at a time when Mumbai was growing. See how it stood the test of time. The stone-carved plaques are still in a good state. It’s good to know that they have been saved’
Railway heritage
CR Mumbai’s Divisional Railway Manager Hiresh Mina helped save the engraved plaque by directing officials to take possession of it from the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd team that dismantled the bridge.
Conservation Speak
Rahul Chemburkar, conservation architect
‘We at VaastuVidhan undertook the documentation of this bridge, conducting a thorough study in collaboration with the heritage cell of BMC. Subsequently, we created documentation drawings of the stone masonry and meticulously marked every stone prior to the bridge’s dismantling. With built heritage vanishing from the city, documentation and studies help to build an archive and understanding of an era when Mumbai’s infrastructure was first being built.’
Bharat Gothoskar, city chronicler and founder, KHAKI
‘The bridge was undeniably an important part of the Girangaon or mill land in Central Mumbai. The approach ramps were made in stone while the central span above the railway lines was prefabricated in Glasgow, Scotland, and assembled here using rivets. It is heartening to know that the plaques are being conserved thanks to the requests by heritage activists’
R Ventakesh, researcher and historian
‘With the bridge gone, multigenerational memories are lost; a familiar sight of grounding of over a hundred years of collective consciousness is lost. The new double-deck bridge is at best for only personal car movement. End of an era!’
Kunal Tripathi, who runs social media account Mumbai Heritage
‘For generations, Elphinstone Bridge was more than just a crossing; it was part of the city’s daily rhythm, connecting neighbourhoods, people, and memories. While redevelopment is necessary for a growing city, it is reassuring that its plaque has been preserved. These small acts of continuity matter because they ensure that even as Mumbai changes its skyline, it does not completely lose sight of the stories that built it’
