Mumbai: The long-awaited demolition of the Elphinstone Bridge at Prabhadevi railway station began in the early hours of Saturday, bringing with it heavy security, traffic diversions and bus route changes. The bridge, which had served as a crucial connector between the eastern and western parts of Parel and Prabhadevi, was officially closed to vehicular traffic at midnight before demolition crews moved in with heavy machinery.

According to viral visuals from the site, a JCB machine was deployed at the Parel signal end to dig up the road, marking the start of dismantling work. A heavy police deployment was seen near the site late at night. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is carrying out the demolition to make way for a new Elphinstone flyover along with the Sewri–Worli elevated connector flyover, a project expected to improve east–west connectivity in central Mumbai.

To manage disruptions, the Mumbai Traffic Police have implemented a series of diversions and one-way rules beginning Thursday night, September 12. For east–west travel, Dadar commuters are being rerouted via Tilak Bridge, while traffic from Parel to Prabhadevi is directed through Currey Road Bridge between 7 am and 3 pm. Chinchpokli Bridge will handle movement towards Worli and the Bandra–Worli Sea Link.

For west–east movement, Tilak Bridge will again cater to Dadar commuters, while Currey Road Bridge will be available from 3 pm to 11 pm for vehicles heading towards Parel and nearby hospitals. Chinchpokli Bridge remains open for access to Worli and the Sea Link.

In addition, strict no-parking zones have been declared on major roads, including N.M. Joshi Road, Senapati Bapat Road, and Mahadev Palav Road to ensure smoother traffic flow during the project.

The demolition has also prompted route realignments for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses operating from its Parel Depot. According to a directive issued on September 11, all ordinary and semi-luxury services between Parel Depot and Dadar will now take an extended detour through Madke Buwa Chowk, Parel T.T. Junction, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, and several junctions before rejoining N.M. Joshi Marg en route to the depot.

This realignment increases the one-way distance from 6 km to 6.2 km. While seemingly minor, this additional stretch triggers a fare stage jump under MSRTC’s slab system, resulting in a slight fare hike for commuters.

The demolition, marked by repeated delays in the past, is seen as a key step in addressing Mumbai’s growing traffic congestion. Once completed, the new double-decker flyover is expected to ease bottlenecks and provide smoother transit across central Mumbai’s busy corridors.

Mumbai: Western Railway’s Mumbai Central Division has achieved a remarkable milestone in ticket checking performance during the current financial year. The division has not only surpassed previous records but also registered the highest-ever earnings in ticket checking between April to August 2025, as compared to any corresponding period of earlier years.

In recognition of their dedication and outstanding service, Pankaj Singh Divisional Railway Manager of Mumbai Central Division felicitated 36 ticket checking staff members for their exceptional performance.

According to Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the division has earned over ₹40 crore from ticket checking till August 2025, as against ₹31 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an impressive growth of almost 30%.

During the period from April to August 2025, almost 4.50 lakh ticketless travellers were apprehended. This outstanding achievement is the result of the sustained efforts of the ticket checking staff.

During the period, the highest individual revenue earners among the ticket checking staff were C.K. Sinha, Dy. Chief Ticket Inspector, Udhna, who collected almost ₹45 lakh, and Deepak S. Sapkale, Dy. Chief Ticket Inspector, Surat, who garnered more than ₹35 lakh. Their exemplary performance has set a benchmark for others in the division.

Yet another unique highlight of Mumbai Central Division’s performance has been the contribution by the Special Ladies Ticket Checking Squad. This squad consists of two teams comprising of 10 members each. Between April to August 2025, the squad detected more than 38,400 cases and generated revenue of around ₹109 lakh.

Amongst the women staff, Sheetal Sakru, Dy. Chief Ticket Inspector, Mumbai Central, emerged as the top performer with collection of almost ₹7 lakh as penalty. This showcases the efficiency, commitment and dedication of the women’s squad.

The remarkable efforts of the ticket checking staff promotes passenger discipline and strengthens Western Railway’s image as a responsible and efficient organisation.

The upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup, scheduled for Sunday, September 14, in Dubai, has sparked a major political controversy in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, has strongly opposed India’s participation, citing the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were killed.

Party chief Uddhav Thackeray questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remarks that “blood and water cannot flow together.” He said, “Blood has been spilled now and yet cricket is being played?” Addressing district chiefs from Vidarbha and Marathwada at his Bandra residence ‘Matoshree,’ Thackeray directed party workers to stage aggressive protests on match day.

Meanwhile, UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the BCCI through social media. Calling the cricket board’s decision “not just anti-national, but anti-human,” he wrote, “Playing with Pakistan, from where the terrorists who massacred Indians in Pahalgam came, for money is absolute shamelessness. Pakistan even boycotted the Asia Cup Hockey in India. What is worse is the silence of the Union Government.”

The issue has taken a sharp political turn, with Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar slamming the UBT’s stand. “Our position has always been that India will not tour Pakistan, nor will Pakistan tour India. But in international tournaments, the Indian team cannot refuse to participate. What sort of stand is this? It is not appropriate,” Shelar said on Friday.

Taking a dig at Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, Shelar reminded them that Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad was once hosted at the residence of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. “Those who oppose India’s participation now should remember that Balasaheb had invited Miandad to his home,” he remarked.