Mumbai, June 26 -- Over a decade ago, the BMC began planning for two alternate bridges to replace the century-old Mahalaxmi station bridge; all these years later, work on only one is underway. The deadline is October 2026, but an extension is on the cards. Like many other British-era bridges in Mumbai, a structural analysis by IIT Bombay in 2016 called for reducing the load on the Mahalaxmi railway over-bridge (ROB), which goes over the station tracks. The current structure is T-shaped, connecting both Worli and Haji Ali from around the Mahalaxmi Race Course to Saat Rasta. In response, the BMC planned two bridges on either side of the old bridge, both leading to Saat Rasta. One, at its south, would lead from Keshavrao Khadye Marg (KK Marg), and the other from Dr E Moses Road. Together, they would divert and distribute traffic from the congested junction onto the two arms. After some delays, work orders for both ROBs were passed in 2020, but the work took time to begin as encroachments had to be removed. Yet, when the BMC's budget in February this year listed progress on the bridge as 35%, it was referring only to one of the bridges-the one from KK Marg to Saat Rasta. Work on the second ROB is yet to begin. "Both bridges are needed," said Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (projects). "But with the second bridge, there are quite a few buildings and structures coming in its way. The cost of shifting and rehabilitating everything in the way is coming up to be approximately Rs.200 crore, which is more than the cost of the bridge. Hence, the BMC is yet to take a call on it." The bridge from KK Marg to Saat Rasta, a cable-stayed bridge due to the limited road space to accommodate the pillars, has a deadline of October 2026. In 2022, it was decided that the bridge would be extended until the S bridge in Byculla. There is little argument among commuters that an alternative to the Mahalaxmi bridge is needed. "The junction, without a doubt, sees a tremendous amount of traffic," said Lalit Jogani, 52. "But part of the reason for that is that there are bus stops and taxi stands too close to the junction at the station. Share cabs are piled up at the junction, sometimes double-parking and taking ad-hoc U-turns. If these stands were shifted slightly away, it would help decongest it," he added. When asked about the alternate bridges, Jogani said, "The KK Marg bridge will help reduce traffic, but a lot of vehicles also travel from Worli near Famous Studio, for which the other bridge from E Moses Road would be necessary." Architect Alan Abraham, whose firm came up with the idea of the two alternatives to the Mahalaxmi station bridge a decade ago, had envisioned underpassess instead of road-over-bridges. He explained that for a bridge going over the railway tracks, a long ramp will be required on either side, which will take up road space, as well as having to axe 250 trees. "An underpass is the better option, as it would not require land acquisition, would be far cheaper than the cable-stayed option, would not compromise the road, and would not add to the concrete clutter above ground. The BMC still has the option to go ahead with an underpass for the yet-to-begin bridge from E Moses Road to Saat Rasta," he said. Recognising the heavy pedestrian load on the Mahalaxmi bridge, Abraham had also proposed a complete pedestrianisation of the T-junction, extending from the Mahalaxmi Race Course till Saat Rasta. After the new bridges are constructed, a decision will be made on what to be done with the old bridge. While an official from the BMC's bridge department said it would be re-girdered, Bangar said its fate would have to be decided by the BMC and Railways jointly....