Mumbai: Deadline for Sion East-West Railway Overbridge extended till August 15
Maharashtra: The deadline for completion of the Sion East-West Railway Overbridge (ROB) has been extended from May 31, 2026, to August 15, 2026. The century-old bridge, located in front of the Sion Railway Station, has been closed since August 2024. The BMC is working on this project in collaboration with the Central Railway.
Project cost increases to ₹49.96 crore
The cost of constructing the Sion Bridge, which connects South Mumbai to the suburbs, has increased from ₹42.83 crore to ₹49.96 crore due to the construction of steel girders and approach roads.
The proposal for this cost increase was sent to the BMC’s Standing Committee for final approval. However, committee members expressed concern that the delay in completing the bridge has caused significant inconvenience to commuters and disrupted traffic flow.
Education Committee Chairperson and Standing Committee Member Rajshree Shirwadkar said, “Hawkers have taken over the area, making it difficult for pedestrians – especially schoolchildren – to navigate the narrow lanes affected by the construction.”
Congress councilor Ajanta Yadav said, “There are schools and hospitals in the area. The delay in completing the bridge has worsened traffic and caused inconvenience to pedestrians. When will the bridge be completed to provide relief to the people?”
Responding to questions, Additional Municipal Commissioner Bipin Sharma said, “The bridge will be opened to traffic by August 15, 2026.”
Construction Work and Commuter Discomfort
The BMC is overseeing the construction of the Sion Bridge within the railway boundary, which includes the approach road, two PUPs, and other related work. The closure of the Sion ROB has disrupted daily life, forcing pedestrians and vehicles to take long and arduous detours.
A foot overbridge on the Sion Bridge, which will facilitate pedestrian movement from the east to the west, was scheduled to open in October 2025. Officials had previously stated that the railway administration would install the final girder by May 31, completing all work on the west side, while work on the east side would take another 30-45 days, with the aim of completing the flyover by July 15. However, the completion timeline has now been pushed back by another month.
On Friday, the BMC’s Standing Committee reviewed 49 proposals, including a major plan to build a 1.3-km flyover connecting the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) to Airoli. The construction contract was awarded for ₹1,389 crore, 6.8% more than the estimated cost.
However, BMC records show that the total cost has doubled, and the final estimate now stands at ₹2,495 crore. The tender states that the flyover will be completed in 36 months, barring any delay due to monsoon.
