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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

MRIDC speeds up Elphinstone ROB, completion in Sep

Mumbai: Come Ganeshotsav, Mumbai is poised to get an eye-catching landmark – the ambitious Elphinstone Double-Decker Road Overbridge, being fast-tracked to provide a key link to the Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor and Atal Setu, officials said. The double-decker ROB, will dramatically arise by Sep. 2026 from the ashes of the 112-year-old British-era Elphinstone Bridge that is being demolished since Oct. 225 after it outlived its utility. The swank double-decker coming up in its place will be a...

MRIDC speeds up Elphinstone ROB, completion in Sep

Mumbai: Come Ganeshotsav, Mumbai is poised to get an eye-catching landmark – the ambitious Elphinstone Double-Decker Road Overbridge, being fast-tracked to provide a key link to the Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor and Atal Setu, officials said. The double-decker ROB, will dramatically arise by Sep. 2026 from the ashes of the 112-year-old British-era Elphinstone Bridge that is being demolished since Oct. 225 after it outlived its utility. The swank double-decker coming up in its place will be a decisive leap in urban mobility for the country’s commercial capital, with hopes to unclog it's perpetually-jammed arterial routes while seamlessly connecting Mumbai to expanding eastern waterfront besides residential and commercial complexes in the region. Being built by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSRIDC) Ltd. at a cost of a little over Rs. 167-cr, hectic work is on to demolish the old bridge, built in 1913 that connected Prabhadevi-Parel. Giant cranes at work The precision engineering of the work involves two gigantic 800-tonne cranes which are deployed to lift and remove the massive sections of the old razed structure. This challenging yet delicate operation is being carried on live railway lines without disrupting the Mumbai lifelines of the Central Railway and Western Railway corridors, thanks to meticulous planning and coordination, said an official. The new double-decker ROB will not merely replace the old bridge, but is set to redefine connectivity in the region. Spanning 132 metres across the two busy railway lines, described as a ‘rare and technically complex achievement in a dense urban terrain’ like south Mumbai. The bridge’s twin-level configuration is custom-engineered for efficiency for both commuters and pedestrians and traffic movement. To boost people-traffic pace The lower deck will have a 2+2 lanes plus a footpath, to ensure continued east-west access for the local commuters or pedestrians, while the 2+2 lanes upper deck minus the public walkway, would provide a crucial artery of the Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor, affording a swift, signal-free link to the iconic Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and onwards. This would enable a much faster access to Navi Mumbai and beyond, reduced vehicular congestion at various points while opening up a new spine of regional connectivity and growth. The double-decker bridge is engineered with a robust ‘Open Web Girder’ superstructure - a design suited to heavy railway crossings – with an eye on long-term durability and future capacity. “It reflects a broader shift in infrastructure thinking: building upward where horizontal expansion is no longer feasible,” said an official. Game-changer for Mumbai traffic He said that the Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor itself is itself envisioned as a game-changer for Mumbai’s east-west mobility, easing pressure on overburdened roads and integrating with larger transport networks that are reshaping the city and the bustling Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). “With a seamless link to the MTHL (Atal Setu), the corridor will boost the city’s strategic push towards decongestion, economic expansion and overall development of the surroundings,” said the official, as the project races to catch the Sep. 2026 deadline. A joint-venture of Maharashtra government and the Ministry of Railways, MahaRail is entrusted with accelerating rail and road infrastructure in the state, eliminate level-crossings to enhance safety, streamline rail-and-road traffic, and is executing several new railway lines, ROBs, RUBs, subways and flyovers.

A beacon of hope for rural athletes

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

How Akash Shinde transformed from a shy village boy to a prominent kabaddi player

beacon of hope

Mumbai: In the heart of Nashik's Adgaon village, a young boy Akash Shinde dared to dream big. Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletes.


“Initially, when I used to play, I would come home with bruises because Kabaddi was played in the mud,” Akash recalls as he enters his fourth season with the Puneri Paltan. And despite his family's initial concerns, his passion for kabaddi burned bright, fuelled by the unwavering support of his early mentors Sagar Malwade and Vinod Labde.


His path to success was far from smooth. He faced numerous setbacks, failing to make the cut in his first attempts at various levels. “I fell short in my first attempts at all levels. I went for my senior camp for Maharashtra and fell short there too!”


But instead of letting these failures discourage him, Akash used them as stepping stones. “These setbacks kept me determined, and I knew I needed to try harder and with renewed energy to show the world what I could do and achieve.”


His breakthrough came in 2019 at a seniors’ trial in Nashik. This performance opened doors, leading him to play in the Junior Nationals and eventually catching the eye of Yuva Paltan, which is the Puneri Paltan’s academy.


The turning point in Akash’s career came when he represented his college in Beed, earning his first chance to play for Maharashtra. Under the guidance of Anil Jagdale and Kailas Jagdale, his skills flourished. His journey accelerated as he moved from Mahindra & Mahindra to Yuva Paltan, where mentors like Sangram and Ashok helped refine his game.


Akash’s PKL debut with Puneri Paltan in Season 8 was a moment of immense pride, not just for him but for his entire village. “No player from the Nashik region had made it to PKL or even the Maharashtra team, so it was a shock, a pleasant one, for everyone. The entire Nashik district was very happy. It felt really good,” he reminisces.


But it was in Season 9 that he truly announced his arrival, becoming a formidable force on the mat. In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final, he scored 139 raid points, averaging 6.32 raid point per match.


His performances caught the eye of the national selectors, earning him a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games. “I received my Team India kit on the 27th of October. I still remember it,” he says.


The crowning glory came in PKL Season 10 when Akash, along with his Puneri Paltan teammates, lifted the coveted trophy. Albeit playing a diminished role, he managed an impressive 56 raid points in the 13 matches he played. “There was only one target then... we had made up our minds that we had to win the title this season, whatever it took,” he shared, reflecting on the team’s collective determination. Now, Akash stands as a beacon of hope for young athletes from rural India. His message to them is clear: “Keep believing in yourselves and your dedication and efforts.” He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, urging young players to stay true to the clubs that nurture them.


As he prepares for PKL Season 11, his journey from the muddy grounds of Adgaon to the bright lights of Pro Kabaddi serves as a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and unwavering support.

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