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Vashi Bridge
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The Vashi Bridge, also known as Thane Creek Bridge or the Second Thane Creek Bridge, is a road bridge across Thane Creek, which connects the city of Mumbai to the Indian mainland at Navi Mumbai. Opened in 1997, the bridge links the suburb of Mankhurd in Mumbai with Vashi in Navi Mumbai, the satellite city of Mumbai. It is one of four entry points into Mumbai (the other three being the Airoli Bridge upstream across Thane Creek, Mulund, and Dahisar), and handles traffic directed towards the region to the south and east of Mumbai.
Key Information
The bridge replaces the first Thane Creek Bridge, built in 1973, which still stands to the north of the current bridge, but is closed to traffic. A third bridge is currently under construction and is expected to open in August 2024.
There is also a railway bridge to the south of both road bridges.
History
[edit]
First bridge
[edit]In 1959, a study group for Greater Bombay, headed by S.G. Barve, proposed constructing a rail-cum-road bridge, over the Thane Creek in order to expand industrial development areas and accommodate the.city's growing population.[1] In the 1960s, civil engineer Adi Kanga and others proposed building Navi Mumbai to help decongest Mumbai.[2]
The first bridge, conceived by Adi Kanga, was opened in 1973.[1] The two-lane road bridge, named Thane Creek Bridge 1 (TCB-1) is 1,837 metres (6,027 ft) long.[3] The bottom side of the prestressed girders of some spans developed corrosion cracks within two years of the bridge opening to traffic.This led to a series of extensive repairs, including external prestressing.[4] The railway bridge was opened on 9 May 1992.[5]
The first bridge is currently closed to traffic.[1][6]
Second bridge
[edit]The Thane Creek Bridge 2 (TCB-2) was proposed in 1987 to replace the first bridge. The bridge was built by the U.P. State Bridge Corporation and opened to traffic in 1995.[7][1][3] It is a box girder bridge, carrying a 6-lane dual carriageway, with a length of 1,837.35 metres (6,028.1 ft). It has several unique features in its construction and design, with emphasis on durability and a formal QA/QC programme.[8]
Proof Consultants were appointed to oversee each aspect of planning, design and construction. Open foundations were taken into the bedrock with foundation concrete being laid in the dry, with the sea water being pumped out using submersible pumps. The piers in the intertidal zone were protected by epoxy coal tar paint painted on 6 millimetres (0.24 in) thick m.s. plate which was considered as a lost shuttering.[further explanation needed] The superstructure was a P. S. C. box girder, one for each carriageway, constructed using balanced cantilever cast-in-situ segments. It was constructed by U. P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd., and won the most outstanding concrete structure award.[8]
NRS AS, a manufacturer specializing in comprehensive bridge construction equipment, provided the U.P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd. with a total of 12 pairs of 'BRIDGEBUILDER' FORMTRAVELER (BB FT) equipment specially designed for Free Cantilever Construction.[9] These supplied BBFT units belonged to the 'Type II-A12-51' category, boasting impressive specifications:
- Load Capacity (Tons): 156
- Maximum Road Width (meters): 3.35
- Maximum Box Width (meters): 7.5
- Maximum Segment Length (meters): 5
Third bridge
[edit]The Thane Creek Bridge 3 (TCB-3) was proposed in 2012. It will consist of two separate 3-lane bridges constructed on either side of TCB-2. The third bridge will have a 1.837 km (1.141 mi) main span and 1.25 km (0.78 mi) of approach roads.[1] The project will be executed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), with MSRDC being the nodal agency.[6] Larsen and Toubro was awarded the contract to build TCB-3 in September 2018.[10]
Work was scheduled to begin in September 2018, however, it was delayed by permissions required to cut down an estimated 430 mangroves across 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres).[11][12][13] The Bombay High Court granted permission for construction in January 2020.[14] Works were also delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction began on 29 October 2020. Around 15% of the total project work had been completed by April 2022,[1] and 33% by November 2022.[13] Around 51% of the work had been completed by June 2023.[15] The bridge was expected to open in August 2024. As of June 2025, the bridges of both the ways are thrown open to the traffic.
Bridge locations
[edit]The old bridge lies just to the north of the present Vashi Bridge, and the railway bridge further south (labelled "Mankhurd Vashi Railway Bridge"), can be seen on the map.[16]
The Airoli Bridge is further upstream across Thane Creek, while the 21.8 km (13.5 mi) Mumbai Trans Harbour Link is further south.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "The bridge on Thane Creek". The Indian Express. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Visionary who helped create a city". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b "2 three-lane bridges to be built along Thane creek bridge". Hindustan Times. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Naik, Yogesh. "High Court clears way for third bridge over thane creek". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Mumbai: Suburban services extension up to Vashi on harbour line completes 30 years". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b Staff Reporter (21 May 2018). "Vashi bridge expansion a step closer". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Assainar, Raina (21 January 2018). "Vashi bridge to be partially closed". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Welcome To UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd". Bridgecorporationltd.com. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ Singh, Brijesh (20 September 2023). "REFERENCE LIST "BRIDGEBUILDER" FORMTRAVELER (BB FT) For Free Cantilever Construction, Thane Creek Bridge (UP State Bridge Corp.)" (PDF). www.nrsas.com. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "L&T Construction bags orders worth Rs 2,654 crore from MSRDC". The Economic Times. 3 September 2018. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Thane Creek Bridge-III: Overall 10 per cent of construction done so far; project to be ready by 2023". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Naik, Yogesh (4 November 2020). "1.5 hectares of mangroves to be cut for new Vashi bridge". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Changing City: Thane Creek Bridge 3 will help disperse traffic, ensure hassle free traveling experience". The Indian Express. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Naik, Yogesh (13 January 2020). "High Court clears way for third bridge over thane creek". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "Third Vashi creek bridge 51% done, to smoothen traffic between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai". The Times of India. 21 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Vashi Bridge". Google Maps. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
Vashi Bridge
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Location and Geography
Position and Connectivity
The Vashi Bridge, commonly referring to the Thane Creek Bridge structures (TCB-1 and TCB-2), spans Thane Creek, a tidal waterway approximately 1.6 km wide at its narrowest point, connecting Mankhurd in Mumbai to Vashi in [Navi Mumbai](/page/Navi Mumbai).[2][5] Positioned at roughly 19°03′41″N 72°58′13″E, the bridges lie within the Mumbai Harbour Division, facilitating east-west transit across the creek that delineates the boundary between Mumbai's island territory and the continental mainland.[6] These bridges integrate into the regional road network as a segment of the Sion-Panvel Highway, linking Mumbai's Eastern Expressway to Navi Mumbai's infrastructure and onward routes toward Panvel and Pune via National Highway 48.[2] This alignment positions the Vashi Bridge as a primary arterial route for vehicular traffic, including private cars, buses, and goods vehicles, serving daily commutes between the densely populated Mumbai core and the industrial-residential hubs of Navi Mumbai.[7] The structure's connectivity extends its role beyond local travel, acting as one of four key eastern gateways to Mumbai and supporting broader Maharashtra state linkages, with ongoing expansions to a total of 12 lanes across parallel bridges to handle peak-hour volumes exceeding 100,000 vehicles per day.[8][9]Surrounding Infrastructure
The Vashi Bridge, as the second Thane Creek crossing, integrates with the Sion-Panvel Highway (NH-348), linking Mumbai's Eastern Expressway to Navi Mumbai's road network and onward routes toward Pune.[2] This highway facilitates heavy commuter and freight traffic, with the bridge serving as a critical chokepoint between urban Mumbai and the satellite city of Navi Mumbai.[10] To the north, the first Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-1), a two-lane structure completed in 1973 and measuring 1,837 meters, remains structurally present but closed to vehicular traffic since the Vashi Bridge's commissioning.[2] Parallel to the Vashi Bridge, the third Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-3), a six-lane expansion project costing ₹559 crore, has seen its northbound arm open in October 2024 and further sections in 2025, effectively doubling capacity over the creek and alleviating bottlenecks for approximately 60,000 daily users on the Sion-Panvel corridor.[11][12] In Navi Mumbai, the bridge feeds into Vashi's local infrastructure, including Palm Beach Marg and the Thane-Belapur Road, providing access to Thane city, Belapur, and industrial hubs like the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).[13] The opening of the Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link) in January 2024 has diverted trans-harbor traffic, reducing load on the Vashi Bridge by offering an alternative 21.8 km sea-link route from Sewri to Nhava Sheva.[14] Additionally, ongoing upgrades to the Sion-Panvel Highway, including widening to 10 lanes in sections, support enhanced regional connectivity.[15]Historical Development
Early Planning and Proposals
The initial proposals for a bridge over Thane Creek to link Mumbai with emerging satellite developments arose amid efforts to address urban congestion in post-independence Bombay. In 1948, the Mayer-Modak Committee, tasked with planning Greater Bombay's expansion, advocated for satellite towns north of the city to disperse population and industry, highlighting the need for enhanced cross-creek connectivity though without specifying a bridge design.[16] A more direct recommendation came in 1959 from the Study Group for Greater Bombay, chaired by S.G. Barve, which explicitly proposed constructing a combined rail-cum-road bridge spanning Thane Creek. The group argued that such infrastructure would facilitate township development on the mainland opposite Bombay, serving as a counter-magnet to relieve overcrowding and support industrial relocation.[17][18] These early ideas remained conceptual for over a decade, as priorities shifted toward comprehensive regional planning, including the formation of the City and Industrial Development Corporation in 1971 to execute Navi Mumbai's blueprint, which ultimately prioritized road connectivity via the creek.[2]First Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-1)
The First Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-1) was the inaugural road crossing over Thane Creek, linking Mankhurd in Mumbai to Vashi in Navi Mumbai and enabling initial connectivity to the developing satellite city.[9][17] Constructed as a two-lane structure spanning 1,837 meters (6,027 feet), it was designed by civil engineer Adi Kanga and opened to traffic in 1973.[2][18] The bridge's completion addressed the absence of direct vehicular access across the creek, previously reliant on ferries, and supported early urban expansion in Navi Mumbai following the City and Industrial Development Corporation's (CIDCO) planning in the late 1960s.[9] Engineering details indicate TCB-1 employed conventional reinforced concrete construction typical of mid-20th-century Indian infrastructure projects, with a focus on basic span requirements over the tidal creek's navigational needs.[18] However, within two years of operation, the bridge exhibited significant cracking, attributed to material fatigue and load stresses from increasing usage, prompting immediate repairs.[19] By the late 1990s, escalating traffic volumes—far exceeding the two-lane capacity—and ongoing structural degradation rendered it inadequate, leading to its closure to regular vehicular traffic around 2005.[20][21] The bridge's decommissioning facilitated the construction of the parallel six-lane replacement (TCB-2) starting in 1987, which assumed full traffic load upon its 1997 opening.[2] TCB-1 remains standing north of the newer span, occasionally used for maintenance access or pedestrians but primarily as a relic of early Navi Mumbai connectivity challenges.[17] Its rapid obsolescence highlighted limitations in initial design foresight amid rapid urbanization, influencing subsequent creek-crossing projects to prioritize higher capacity and durability.[9]Second Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-2)
The Second Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-2) was proposed in 1987 to address the rapid deterioration of the original Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-1), which had developed severe corrosion and structural weaknesses shortly after its 1973 opening, rendering it inadequate for growing traffic demands.[2] Construction began that year under the U.P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd., with oversight from Proof Consultants implementing a formal quality assurance and control system to ensure structural integrity.[2] The project spanned a decade, culminating in the bridge's opening to traffic on May 30, 1997, as a replacement designed to provide enhanced capacity across Thane Creek.[2] TCB-2 features a 1,837.35-meter-long box girder design configured as a six-lane dual highway, with a maximum road width of 3.35 meters per lane, box width up to 7.5 meters, and segment lengths of 5 meters, engineered to support loads of 156 tons.[2] This configuration marked a significant upgrade, accommodating heavier vehicular traffic between Mumbai's Mankhurd suburb and Navi Mumbai's Vashi node. For its innovative concrete engineering, TCB-2 received an Outstanding Structure award, highlighting its role in advancing bridge construction standards in the region despite the extended build timeline.[2] The bridge's completion alleviated immediate congestion pressures but soon faced overload as Navi Mumbai's development accelerated, paving the way for subsequent expansions.[9]Third Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-3)
The Third Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-3) was proposed in 2012 by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to address escalating traffic congestion on the existing Thane Creek crossings linking Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, with an initial design for two parallel three-lane bridges positioned on either side of the Second Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-2).[2] The project, executed through a special-purpose vehicle named Thane Creek Bridge Infrastructure Limited (TCBIL), aimed to add six lanes overall, expanding the corridor's capacity to handle up to 200,000 vehicles daily and alleviate bottlenecks on the Sion-Panvel Highway.[22][23] Construction contracts were awarded to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in September 2018, with site work commencing in December 2020 following geological surveys and environmental clearances.[2][24] The bridge spans 1.8 kilometers across the main creek section, supplemented by 1.25 kilometers of approach roads, and incorporates engineering standards compliant with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) load requirements for durability exceeding 100 years under heavy vehicular loads.[2][15] Total project costs were estimated at approximately Rs 559 crore, funded via equity from MSRDC, debt, and anticipated toll revenues until 2036 to recover investments.[22] Progress faced delays from environmental litigation, including impacts on local fisherfolk livelihoods, prompting Bombay High Court directives in May 2025 for Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to evaluate damages and recommend compensation.[25] Despite these hurdles, the northbound arm (Mumbai to Navi Mumbai) opened partially in October 2024 under then-Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with full operationalization of both arms achieved on June 5, 2025, following inauguration by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.[22][26] TCB-3's completion marked a key milestone in regional infrastructure expansion, particularly in anticipation of increased traffic from the Navi Mumbai International Airport, though toll collection extensions to 2036 have drawn commuter concerns over ongoing costs.[15] The structure's parallel configuration to TCB-2 minimizes navigational interference with creek traffic while enhancing redundancy, with L&T reporting over 50% completion by mid-2023 amid site-specific challenges like soft soil foundations requiring specialized piling.[9][27] Post-opening, initial data indicated smoother flows, though integration with upstream upgrades like the 10-lane Sion-Panvel Highway remains critical for optimal utilization.[15]Design and Engineering
Structural Design
The Vashi Bridge employs a prestressed concrete (PSC) box girder superstructure, configured as a haunched girder design to optimize stress distribution across varying span depths.[6] This configuration enhances structural efficiency by providing deeper sections over supports and shallower ones mid-span, reducing material use while maintaining load-bearing capacity for vehicular traffic.[6] The bridge's construction utilized balanced cantilever methods with cast-in-situ segmental erection, allowing for precise incremental assembly from piers outward to minimize temporary support needs in the challenging intertidal environment of Thane Creek.[6] Main spans reach 107 meters, supporting a total length of 1,837 meters for the dual carriageway structure, which accommodates six lanes divided into two sets of three lanes each with a deck width of 2 x 11 meters.[6] Foundations consist of open excavations driven into bedrock, with concrete placement facilitated by submersible pumps to manage tidal water ingress, ensuring stable anchorage against seismic and hydrodynamic forces.[6] Piers located in the intertidal zone incorporate corrosion-resistant measures, including 6 mm thick mild steel plates coated with epoxy coal tar paint as lost shuttering to shield against saline exposure and marine abrasion.[6] The overall design prioritizes durability, with a formal quality assurance and control program overseen by proof consultants to verify compliance with engineering standards amid the region's corrosive coastal conditions.[6] These elements collectively enable the bridge to handle heavy traffic loads while withstanding environmental stresses inherent to its creek-spanning location.[2]Construction Techniques and Materials
The Vashi Bridge, also known as the Second Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-2), employs open well foundations constructed into the bedrock beneath the creek, where water depths reach up to 10 meters and are subject to tidal variations.[28][29] Two alternative methods were used for these open foundations: in deeper sections, well sinking techniques involved creating a temporary dam-like cofferdam to facilitate dry placement of foundation concrete, followed by dewatering using submersible pumps to ensure placement in the dry.[17][28] This approach addressed the challenging marine environment, with caisson or well foundations providing stability against scour and tidal forces.[28] Piers in the intertidal zones were built using reinforced concrete (RCC), protected against corrosion with 6 mm thick mild steel plates coated in epoxy coal tar paint serving as lost shuttering.[6] These measures enhanced durability in the saline, tidal conditions of Thane Creek.[6] The superstructure consists of prestressed concrete (PSC) box girders, with one continuous haunched box girder per carriageway supporting the dual three-lane configuration (total deck width of 2 × 11 meters).[6] Construction utilized balanced cantilever methods with cast-in-situ segments, enabling spans up to 107 meters while minimizing disruptions in the waterway.[6][29] A formal quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program was implemented throughout, emphasizing material testing and construction precision to ensure long-term performance.[6] The project, executed by the U.P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd. from 1987 to 1997, prioritized prestressed concrete for its high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to environmental degradation over alternatives like steel in this corrosive setting.[6]Capacity and Specifications
The Vashi Bridge, formally the First Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-1), completed in 1973, spans 1,837 meters across Thane Creek and was designed as a three-lane prestressed concrete girder structure supported by open foundations into bedrock. Its carriageway accommodated standard vehicular loads for the era under Indian Roads Congress guidelines, though exact design live load figures such as axle or equivalent uniformly distributed loads are not publicly detailed in engineering records. The bridge's capacity was limited to three lanes total, facilitating bidirectional traffic between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, but corrosion cracks in the prestressed girders emerged within years of opening, compromising structural integrity and leading to its eventual closure for repairs.[6] The subsequent Second Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-2), often associated with the Vashi crossing and completed in 1990, extends 1,837 meters with a six-lane configuration comprising two independent decks, each approximately 11 meters wide. Constructed using prestressed concrete box girders via balanced cantilever cast-in-situ segments, it enhances overall creek-crossing capacity to handle heavier traffic volumes, with piers protected by epoxy coal tar paint. Main spans reach up to 107 meters, supporting increased load demands from urban growth, though the system remains subject to overload from peak-hour congestion exceeding original projections.[6]Operations and Usage
Traffic Patterns and Management
The Vashi Bridge, a critical link on the Sion-Panvel Highway, handles substantial daily traffic volumes exceeding 60,000 vehicles, primarily comprising cars, taxis, buses, and trucks, with congestion most acute at the Vashi toll plaza during peak hours.[10] In 2017, recorded daily crossings reached 111,616 vehicles, reflecting the bridge's role as one of Mumbai's busiest eastern entry points despite its six-lane configuration.[30] Traffic patterns exhibit directional imbalances, with north-bound flows toward Mumbai experiencing severe bottlenecks, often slowing to a crawl during rush periods or disruptions like protests, while south-bound movements toward Navi Mumbai see comparatively lighter loads.[11] [31] Management strategies emphasize infrastructure augmentation over short-term interventions, led by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The Third Thane Creek Bridge (TCB-3) expansion, initiated to double capacity, added three lanes per direction, culminating in 12 total lanes across the creek; the Navi Mumbai-bound carriageway opened in October 2024, immediately reducing north-bound delays, followed by the Mumbai-bound section in early 2025.[11] [21] [32] Toll operations at the Vashi naka enforce collections to fund maintenance, though past audits highlighted discrepancies between vehicle counts and revenues, prompting scrutiny of enforcement efficacy.[30] Supplementary measures include requests for enhanced traffic police deployment during peaks, integrated with broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) decongestation plans linking to projects like the Navi Mumbai International Airport.[2]Maintenance and Upkeep
The Vashi Bridge, formally the Second Thane Creek Bridge completed in 1997, undergoes maintenance primarily managed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), focusing on structural integrity amid heavy daily traffic loads between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Routine upkeep includes periodic inspections for corrosion, joint failures, and pavement deterioration, though specific schedules are not publicly detailed beyond reactive interventions.[33] In February 2018, repair works commenced on the bridge due to identified structural concerns, resulting in a ban on heavy vehicles to prevent further damage and ensure commuter safety during the process.[34] By November 2019, MSRDC initiated additional repairs projected to span one month, addressing wear from overuse and prompting warnings of traffic congestion on approach roads.[33] The original 1973 Thane Creek Bridge, predecessor to the current Vashi structure and now largely decommissioned, required extensive repairs shortly after opening due to early cracks, with further interventions planned as of 2021 including asphalt recoating for potential light vehicle use post-new bridge completions.[19] [35] These efforts highlight ongoing challenges in sustaining creek-spanning infrastructure under escalating urban traffic demands exceeding initial design capacities.Challenges and Criticisms
Construction Delays and Costs
The construction of the Second Thane Creek Bridge, commonly referred to as the Vashi Bridge, began in 1987 following the structural deterioration of the original 1973 bridge, which developed cracks shortly after completion and required extensive repairs.[32] The project spanned a decade until its opening in 1997, a prolonged timeline attributable to engineering complexities in spanning the tidal Thane Creek, including foundation work in soft marine soils and the need for dual carriageways to handle growing traffic.[2] Detailed records of the original construction costs remain limited in public sources, though the bridge's box-girder design and 1,837-meter length represented a significant investment by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to link Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.[17] Expansion efforts to augment the Vashi Bridge have repeatedly encountered delays and cost pressures. A 2012 proposal to widen the structure was stalled amid environmental and funding concerns, with an estimated outlay of Rs 400 crore.[36] The subsequent Third Thane Creek Bridge project, approved in 2017 at Rs 1,775.58 crore, faced setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting the target completion from 2023 to August 2024 and prompting warnings of escalation in its Rs 800 crore baseline due to work stoppages and supply chain disruptions.[37][17][38] Engineering, procurement, and construction contracts for portions of the third bridge, such as the Rs 559 crore award to Larsen & Toubro in 2020, underscored efforts to mitigate overruns, though any milestone delays risked additional expenses borne by the concessionaire or authority.[32] Post-construction, administrative hurdles delayed full inauguration into mid-2025, exacerbating commuter bottlenecks despite partial openings in October 2024 and June 2025, as political approvals lagged behind physical readiness.[11][39][26] These patterns reflect broader challenges in Indian infrastructure projects, where environmental clearances, pandemics, and bureaucratic processes often inflate timelines and budgets beyond initial projections.[40]Safety and Accident Records
The Vashi Creek Bridge, a critical link in Mumbai's Sion-Panvel Highway, has recorded multiple severe traffic accidents, primarily involving collisions between cars and heavy vehicles like dumpers. These incidents are often exacerbated by speeding, illegal parking, and high traffic volumes, with the bridge's design lacking robust crash barriers to prevent vehicles from plunging into the creek below.[41] Experts have highlighted that installing metal beam crash barriers, which can withstand impacts from vehicles up to 2,000 kg, would mitigate such risks without significant cost, as demonstrated by similar implementations on other bridges.[41] Notable accidents include a October 25, 2024, collision where a speeding Ertiga car rammed into an illegally parked dumper, killing three occupants—a couple from Pune and their driver—around 4:15 a.m.[42] [43] On September 25, 2022, a speeding dumper struck nine vehicles, injuring three people and causing major traffic disruptions.[44] Earlier, on March 6, 2020, two dumpers collided, leading to over two hours of congestion on the highway.[45] A December 11, 2020, incident saw a bus carrying essential staff crash into a concrete mixer near the bridge, injuring six.[46]| Date | Incident Description | Casualties/Injuries | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 25, 2024 | Car rams parked dumper | 3 killed | Speeding, illegal parking |
| September 25, 2022 | Dumper hits multiple vehicles | 3 injured | Speeding dumper |
| March 6, 2020 | Dumpers collide | None reported | Collision |
| December 11, 2020 | Bus hits concrete mixer near bridge | 6 injured | Loss of control |