India, Sept. 13 -- As the official time for the Elphinstone Bridge's closure-Friday midnight-crept closer, preparations began on multiple fronts.

To enforce the closure, over 250 police officers were deployed at both ends of the bridge late in the evening. On the other side, residents of the 19 buildings to be affected by the demolition and reconstruction prepared to gather and stop the closure, unsure if they would be successful again for the third time since April.

However, before they could attempt an encore, MMRDA officials and the police made quick work of the job. By 10 pm, both ends of the bridge had been barricaded, and drilling work began to break the approach roads. The protesting residents, having been served notices from the...