MahaRail completes installation of all 40 stay cables for under-construction Byculla bridge

Mumbai: In a significant engineering milestone for Mumbai’s urban infrastructure, MahaRail has completed the erection and installation of all 40 stay cables for the under-construction cable-stayed Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Byculla, marking a major step toward completing one of the city’s most ambitious bridge projects.

With the successful installation of the final stay cable on May 21, the entire 173-metre main span of the bridge is now structurally supported by the stay cable system. Officials said the cable-stayed span has an approximate self-weight of 5,000 metric tonnes, underscoring the scale and complexity of the engineering effort.

The new bridge is being constructed adjacent to the existing century-old Byculla ROB, which has outlived its service life.

MahaRail authorities said the strategy of building the new bridge first will ensure uninterrupted traffic movement on the busy Eastern Express Highway corridor while the old structure undergoes strengthening and rehabilitation after commissioning of the new facility.

Officials described the project as a key component in Mumbai’s broader efforts to modernise ageing transport infrastructure without disrupting daily commuter movement in one of the country’s most densely populated urban corridors.

The four-lane cable-stayed bridge, spanning 916 metres with a 50-metre-high pylon, is expected to provide a weather-resilient and seamless east-west connectivity for commuters travelling through Byculla and adjoining areas.

A notable feature of the project is MahaRail’s patented three-tier utility duct system integrated into the crash barriers, aimed at streamlining utility management while reducing the need for repeated road excavation in the future.

Beyond its transport utility, the bridge is also being positioned as a new urban landmark for Mumbai. The structure will feature remote-controlled architectural LED lighting designed to enhance visibility and aesthetics at night. During national occasions such as Independence Day and Republic Day, the bridge will be illuminated in the Tricolour, officials said.

The bridge design also incorporates a dedicated selfie point, reflecting an increasing trend in urban infrastructure projects to combine functionality with public engagement and tourism appeal.

Officials said one of the most technically challenging phases of the project is currently underway, involving deck erection work above the congested Byculla vegetable market and active railway lines. MahaRail is using specialised Deck Erection Crane (DEC) technology to execute the work while minimising disruption to rail and road traffic.

The project also includes a carefully planned integration with the existing ‘Y’ bridge corridor. One span of the old structure will be dismantled and connected to the new cable-stayed bridge to ensure continued traffic flow towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus while preserving the historic alignment of the corridor.

Urban planners and infrastructure experts view the project as part of Mumbai’s continuing transition towards modern, high-capacity transport infrastructure capable of addressing rising traffic volumes, ageing civic assets and climate-related challenges such as extreme rainfall and flooding.