Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said Mumbai’s Sion bridge, which has remained closed for more than two years, is expected to reopen this weekend. Final works are underway, including painting road markings and installing beams and traffic signals. Read on to know more.
Mumbai’s Sion Bridge To Reopen After 2 Years
The BMC and Central Railway are jointly constructing the new Sion bridge, a key east-west connector, at a cost of around ₹60 crore. The 61-metre-long bridge will replace the earlier 40-metre structure. It will have four vehicular lanes, double the previous capacity, along with a dedicated footpath connecting commuters to Sion railway station. An underpass is also being developed to facilitate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Talking about the same, a civic official said that they have set October 15 as the deadline for opening the bridge. Last week, they completed the load testing. Only some final ancillary works remain. Once the remaining works are completed, the traffic police department will issue a no-objection certificate (NOC). The bridge will then open to vehicular traffic.
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The new structure is replacing the Sion Railway Over Bridge, which was built in 1912. The decision to rebuild it followed a structural audit in 2019 that flagged its precarious condition. The authorities demolished the old bridge to make way for the new one. They installed the steel beams for the replacement bridge in July. Work on the eastern approach began last month after Central Railway handed over a portion of land to the BMC on August 25.
Delay In Sion Bridge Causes Inconvenience To Commuters
The prolonged closure has inconvenienced commuters in Sion, one of Mumbai’s busy transport hubs. On Wednesday, October 14, sports commentator Harsha Bhogle urged the authorities to open the bridge as soon as possible.
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Sports commentator Harsha Bhogle said the Sion bridge appeared to be ready and urged authorities to open it to the public without waiting for an inauguration ceremony. He said the prolonged closure had caused considerable hardship and that reopening the bridge at the earliest would provide much-needed relief to commuters.
FAQs
Has the Sion Bridge started?
The reconstructed 112-year-old Sion Railway Bridge in Mumbai has not yet fully reopened to vehicular traffic, though it is in its final phase of completion with an expected opening date of October 15, 2026.
Why is the Sion Bridge closed?
The Sion Bridge in Mumbai is closed for complete demolition and reconstruction by Central Railway and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Where is Sion in Mumbai?
Sion is a prominent neighbourhood located in central Mumbai, Maharashtra, serving as a key gateway between the city's southern business districts and the northern suburbs.
