With the monsoon approaching, Mumbai commuters are set to face extended congestion as three key infrastructure projects—the Vidyavihar Railway Overbridge (ROB), the Sion East-West Connector, and the Mahalaxmi East-West Connector—have once again missed their scheduled completion timelines. The repeated delays are expected to intensify pressure on already overburdened traffic corridors across central and suburban Mumbai.
The Vidyavihar ROB, initially expected to open by the third week of June 2026, has now been pushed back by at least a month. According to civic officials, pending rehabilitation work on the western side is the primary reason for the delay. The project, commissioned in March 2018, was originally targeted for completion by mid-2022 but has since faced multiple setbacks, including pandemic-related disruptions, design changes over railway alignment, and land acquisition hurdles in Vidyavihar East. Despite progress such as girder launches in May and November 2023, the project has seen shifting deadlines ranging from late 2024 to March 2026 and now June 2026, which has again been missed.
A Ghatkopar resident, Kamlesh Kapasi, said commuters were counting on the bridge to ease congestion. “The Vidyavihar bridge was expected to be completed by June. It will serve as an alternative to the Chembur-Santacruz Link Road, which has become a major traffic bottleneck. Traffic congestion worsens during the monsoon. The bridge would have provided much-needed relief, but now we will have to endure another rainy season of delays,” he said.
In parallel, the Sion East-West Connector has also fallen behind schedule. While the BMC had initially aimed for mid-July completion, Central Railway has not yet completed girder launching, prompting a revised deadline of mid-August. Officials said at least 15 consecutive dry days are required for concreting work, making monsoon conditions a major constraint.
Dharavi resident Ulesh Gajakosh noted that traffic diversions are already worsening congestion. “The delay will inconvenience thousands of commuters using the Sion-Panvel Highway and Dharavi’s 90 Feet Road, as well as local residents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Mahalaxmi East-West Connector, originally expected by October, is now likely to be completed only by year-end due to administrative and engineering delays. The bridge is intended to replace the old Mahalaxmi rail overbridge, but ongoing construction has already narrowed road space and slowed traffic movement.
Krish Thakur, a regular commuter, said, “While it is good that we are getting a new bridge, the ongoing work and barricades have already caused traffic congestion. If the project is delayed further, commuters will have to suffer for several more months.”
Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar confirmed the setbacks, stating that girder work on the Sion bridge is still pending and Vidyavihar’s completion has been delayed further.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
