(This story originally appeared in on Jul 02, 2015)

MUMBAI: The metropolis will get its first double-decker bridge on P D'Mello Road at CST that will have railway tracks and a motorway.On P D'Mello Road, tracks will be constructed at an elevated level and cars will ply above that as the Eastern Freeway will be extended up from Orange Gate to GPO junction.Central Railway (CR) plans to shift the Harbour line corridor to the west of CST. "The relocation is being done to free up existing Harbour line tracks between CST and Masjid. These tracks will be used for the fifth and sixth line project on the Main line corridor," said a senior CR official. "The proposal to have a rail and road link is the first of its kind in the city," said CR general manager SK Sood. "Shifting of Harbour line is the only solution to bring the fifth and sixth line up to CST because there is not enough space to lay additional tracks and acquiring land is time-consuming," Sood added. The Eastern Freeway will be augmented by nearly 3 km in the southern direction and MMRDA planners are working on its exact alignment. "The consultants have been asked to work on the design and submit a feasibility report. The cost is estimated to be around Rs 1,500 crore," said a senior MMRDA official.Platforms between CST and Dockyard Road station will be constructed at the elevated level and will be equipped with escalators."The railway tracks will be at an elevated level because it will be easier to rescue commuters in the event of a mishap. It will also be easier to carry out repairs," a CR official said. The tracks will be at least 20 ft from the ground while the Eastern Freeway extension will be at a height of close to 45 ft. Originally, CR had proposed shifting Harbour line but it had to drop the idea after the MMRDA pointed out that it had plans to extend the freeway. However, the rail and road bridge solution may prove to be a win-win proposition for train passengers and motorists.