December 3, 2025: The BMC and Central Railway (CR) have jointly fixed May 31, 2026, as the completion deadline for the long-delayed reconstruction of the Sion east–west railway overbridge. The century-old structure, located outside Sion station, has remained shut since August 2024, causing significant travel disruptions and forcing commuters into lengthy detours. With several schools, hospitals, and colleges nearby, residents had initially opposed the demolition due to the absence of a safe alternative route.
To ease pedestrian movement and ensure safety, CR opened a dedicated foot overbridge in October, enabling the remaining demolition work to continue without hindering public access.
Review Meeting Sets Firm Execution Plan
A review meeting held at the BMC headquarters, led by Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar, was attended by Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare and senior officials from both BMC and Central Railway. During the discussion, responsibilities were clearly divided: the Railway Department will handle reconstruction work within railway limits, while the civic body will develop approach roads, two pedestrian underpasses, and supporting infrastructure.
Step-by-Step Construction Timeline
According to the detailed timeline shared by BMC, the underpass on Lala Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road will be completed by December 2025, while the Dharavi-side underpass is scheduled for completion by February 2026. Girder launching for the northern half of the bridge is planned for the first week of March 2026, followed by girder launching for the southern half in the first week of April 2026.
Approach roads connecting to Dharavi and LBS Road are expected to be ready by April 15, 2026. Work on the eastern approach will begin immediately after and will take around 45 days.
Bangar stated, “If all activities progress as per this schedule, the entire bridge will be fully completed by May 31, 2026, and it will be opened for traffic from June 1, 2026.”
Girder Fabrication at Nagpur and Ambala
He further noted, “In this entire process, the girders must be made available at the project site within the stipulated timeframe. Girder fabrication is currently underway at Nagpur and Ambala, where BMC officials will remain stationed full-time. These representatives will be responsible for supervising the fabrication work and ensuring that the girders are delivered on schedule.”
Source: The Free Press Journal
