Two major railway bridge projects at Sion and Vidyavihar are nearing completion and are expected to open to traffic by September, potentially easing long-standing congestion and improving east-west connectivity across Mumbai’s eastern and central suburbs.
The projects are expected to benefit commuters travelling through Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Sion and Dharavi, where motorists currently rely on longer routes to cross railway tracks, resulting in significant delays during peak hours.
At Vidyavihar, around 90% of the 612-metre, four-lane bridge has been completed. The remaining work involves concrete casting for two spans, which is scheduled to be finished by August 31. This will be followed by load testing and other safety inspections before the bridge is opened to motorists.
Approximately 100 metres of the structure will pass over the railway tracks. The bridge will provide a direct link between Ramakrishna Chemburkar Marg and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg.
Once operational, the Vidyavihar bridge is expected to substantially reduce travel time between the eastern and western sides of the suburb. The journey, which can currently take 40 to 45 minutes during peak periods, could be reduced to around 10 to 15 minutes. This is expected to ease traffic pressure along the Vidyavihar-Ghatkopar-Kurla corridor.
Meanwhile, construction of the Sion Railway Overbridge has also entered its final phase. The first of the two major steel girders spanning the railway tracks was installed on June 22, followed by the second girder last Saturday.
The remaining works include construction of the approach road and other associated infrastructure. According to the BMC, these works are expected to take around 45 days, with the bridge likely to be opened by the end of September.
The Sion project also includes an approach road and two pedestrian underpasses. Central Railway is executing the portion within railway limits, while the BMC is responsible for the approach road and underpasses.
The Sion bridge has been shut since August 2024, forcing motorists from Sion, Dharavi and neighbouring areas to depend on alternate routes. Its reopening is expected to restore a crucial east-west link and reduce traffic pressure on surrounding roads.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
