August 23, 2025:
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has commenced work on a new east-west railway overbridge at Sion, aimed at improving connectivity between the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg. The Rs 60-crore project is being executed jointly by the BMC and Central Railway.
Sion, a densely populated area in central Mumbai that includes the congested Dharavi slums, has relied on a Railway Overbridge (ROB) built in 1912 to connect the eastern and western parts of the city. A structural audit conducted in 2019 revealed that the century-old bridge was in a precarious condition, prompting plans for its demolition and replacement with a modern structure.
The new bridge will span 61 metres, considerably longer than the previous 40-metre, two-lane ROB, and will feature four lanes to accommodate rising vehicular traffic. It will also include a dedicated footpath, allowing pedestrians direct access to Sion railway station.
In August last year, the old bridge was closed to facilitate demolition. The process required the relocation of several structures, including toilet blocks and an electricity room belonging to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). Demolition began in April this year once the relocation was completed, and construction of the new bridge is now in full swing.
Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), stated that although work had initially progressed slowly, machinery remained on-site, and construction has now accelerated. “The pace picked up once obstacles were removed, and work is currently going on at full speed. We aim to escalate progress further post-monsoon,” he said.
The BMC has set a completion target of June 2026. Bangar added, “We should be able to open the new bridge for vehicular movement by June 2026. The one-month buffer allows for any unforeseen circumstances.”
Source: The Indian Express
