Following the opening of newly-built Sindoor Bridge in Mumbai, commuters are heaving a sigh of relief as it reduced the travel time and traffic congestion in the area that they had been facing since 2022 after it was pulled down over safety concerns. Formerly known as Carnac Bridge, it was officially reopened to traffic on Thursday, restoring a critical east-west link between Masjid and P D Mello Road. A key link in south Mumbai, the bridge was demolished in 2022 after a structural audit declared it unsafe. Its closure led to prolonged traffic congestion, forcing commuters to take lengthy detours via Yellow Gate, Crawford Market, and Fort—already congested areas during peak hours. After more than two years of daily traffic woes, the reopening has dramatically improved travel conditions in the area. After vehicles started to ply on the east-west connector, many commuters reported that the bridge has cut down their travel time by nearly half an hour, The Indian Express reported. “Earlier, during the traffic congestion, we spent about 40 minutes to cross the stretch. With this bridge, now it barely takes 10 to 15 minutes to reach the other side,” The Indian Express quoted Mohammed Akbar Ansari, a taxi driver who operates in the area, as saying. While a woman who runs a shop nearby, said the improvement was felt immediately. Locals claim when the bridge was closed, this whole area would be jam-packed to the extent that even walking became difficult during rush hour. Locals added that with the opening of the bridge, a clear difference in the situation can be seen. The reconstruction work of the bridge was carried out jointly by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with the Central Railways, through the congested belt over the past one-and-a-half years. Civil work was completed in June after 18 months of construction, but the opening was delayed due to final clearances and ancillary works. Unlike the old bridge, which supported only two lanes, the new Sindoor Bridge features four vehicular lanes—doubling its capacity and ensuring smoother traffic flow across the corridor.