MRIDC to build Cable Stayed Road Over Bridge in Byculla

MRIDC has been entrusted the responsibility of reconstruction of old ROBs in Mumbai. MRIDC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on 14th July 2020 to construct 11 ROBs and 1 RUB in Mumbai and suburban region. MRIDC will be constructing iconic structures on the old ROBs across the city. To start with, MRIDC has decided to reconstruct Byculla ROB, located between Byculla and Sandhurst Road Railway Station. It is a British Era bridge constructed in 1922, existing bridge is 98 years old.

Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal, Managing Director, MRIDC has informed that – MRIDC has already conducted the utility mapping up to 5m below ground level to assess the details of utility to adopt best location options of foundation footprint, pile cap etc. The new ROB will consist of total 8 lanes, in lieu of existing 6 lanes, 4 lanes each for either side movement. The existing viaduct of the ROB will be merged with new iconic structure of the ROB. MRIDC has planned to complete the new ROB and divert the traffic to new  proposed Cable Stayed Bridge and also reconstruct the existing bridge along with new 4 lanes ROB. This will ensure no disruption to road traffic”.

Geo technical work in progress near Byculla station

The approach of the ROB is associated with the unidirectional flyovers on both sides and starts at R Merchant chowk and stretches up to Byculla suburban Railway Station on Eastern Express Highway.

Ariel view of existing structure and existing ROB over the Central railway track between Byculla and CSMT

Existing Bridge analysis done by IIT – Bombay:

IIT Mumbai had conducted a condition assessment survey of the existing bridge and they found that the ROB in Byculla needs to be replaced on priority, as the condition of the bridge is beyond repair or rehabilitation.

The lane configuration of the existing ROB is 6 lanes divided carriageway with 3-lanes in each direction. The traffic volume has significantly increased in the recent years and there is possible growth in future. Also, the traffic flow cannot be stopped at any point of time as this route is the lifeline connecting the CSMT with Dadar. Hence, there is a need for new bridge with increased lane to cater the higher volume of road traffic.

Proposed New Bridge:

MRIDC has planned to construct the Cable Stayed ROB parallel to the existing ROB and reconstruct the existing ROB with semi-through composite girder having required clearance from the Rail Track.

Two ROBs will be constructed as follows:

  • Cable Stayed ROB with viaduct on main carriageway for to and fro traffic.
  • Semi through girder ROB replacing the existing ROB with approaches to cater to local traffic.

2 separate ROBs, to the right will be reconstructed existing ROB and to the left will be the new proposed Cable Stayed Bridge

Benefits of proposed structure:

1. Two separate ROBs:

  • In the first stage, one parallel ROB will be constructed without disturbing the existing ROB and traffic will be continuous on the existing bridge during this stage. In the second stage, the existing ROB will be reconstructed at the same location after diverting traffic on the newly constructed parallel bridge.

2. Cable Stayed Bridge:

  • The proposed ROB is symmetric Cable Stayed Bridge with single central pylon. Pylons are positioned in such a way to have minimum encroachment in the MCGM market area. In a way, shifting towards Railway track as much as possible maintaining the requirements of Railway schedule of dimension keeping in the view of Pylon construction and erection of superstructure.
  •  Long span of Cable Stayed Bridge will eliminate the number of foundations in the Railway boundary and the MCGM market area.

3. Semi through type ROB in the Service road:

  • The acute deck corner of the skew bowstring bridge is very critical in terms of service ability. The deck will be half through. So, the main girders are protruded upwards and finished road level can be reduced to cater the requisite gradient on the approach.

Semi through type ROB – this will be the reconstruction of the existing ROB which will be parallel to the new proposed Cable Stayed Bridge

4. Steel Superstructure:

  • Long spans are proposed in viaduct section to reduce the number of foundations. Steel super structure is proposed to maintain the vertical clearance profile with smaller girder depth. Steel superstructure is light weight hence, easier to handle and can be erected with lesser capacity of erection crane, gantry, and derrick crane. 

Cable Stayed Steel Structure

5. Service Road loop:

  • To ease out the traffic turning movements, the approach is extended beyond the junction on south side to ease out the longitudinal gradients and this loop is required to enable the traffic movements of the junction.

Merger of service road into Express Highway near Khada Parsi Statue for the road traffic from Semi through type ROB Aerial

  • To enhance the visual appearance of the bridge, we have designed architectural LED lightings all over the bridge which shall illuminate at night. This shall improve the aesthetic appeal of bridge and will have an added advantage of improving safety parameters on the bridge. Selfie point is also being provided on this iconic bridge.

Night view of the proposed Cable Stayed Bridge To

About MahaRail:

Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MRIDC or MahaRail) a Joint Venture of “Government of Maharashtra” and “Ministry of Railways” on 50:50 basis with an objective to provide a boost to the Rail infrastructure projects in the state of Maharashtra by providing critical connectivity and capacity enhancement. MRIDC’s aim is also to identify the traffic potential of different regions of the state including Rail connectivity to the neighboring states and find out economically viable projects and implement them with quality fast track construction and commissioning.


Source: MRIDC-Press Release