In a move blending the country’s infrastructure development with nationalism, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the newly constructed Sindoor Bridge, formerly known as Carnac Bridge, on July 10, 2025, in Mumbai. The renaming honours the success of Operation Sindoor, India’s recent counter-terror offensive, and also seeks to erase the colonial legacy of British governor James Rivett-Carnac.
Speaking at the ceremony, Fadnavis cited the renaming as a tribute to Indian resilience. “The Sindoor Bridge marks both a new beginning and an end to the dark chapter of Carnac’s oppression,” he said, referencing historical accounts by Prabodhankar Thackeray which accuse Carnac of conspiring against Chhatrapati Pratap Singh Raje of Satara.
What do we know about Carnac Bridge?
The original Carnac Bridge, built in 1868, had connected the Masjid area to P D Mello Road, serving as a key route linking the port area with Crawford Market, Kalbadevi, and Dhobi Talao in South Mumbai. It was closed and demolished in 2022 after being deemed structurally unsafe.
Construction of the new 328-metre-long structure was completed on June 13, 2025, with four vehicular lanes replacing the earlier two-lane passage. The bridge aims to significantly reduce traffic congestion in the busy South Mumbai corridor.
Despite its timely completion, the bridge’s opening was delayed due to pending signage work and the lack of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Central Railway. This prompted protests by Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on July 2, criticising the government for the delay.