Mumbai’s long wait nears end: Sion bridge targets August reopening

A newly fabricated steel girder arrives at the Sion railway overbridge site as reconstruction and strengthening work gathers pace. The century-old bridge has remained shut since August 2024, cutting off a key east-west connection in central Mumbai.

Workers continue reconstruction on the Sion railway overbridge, one of Mumbai's important connectors between the island city and eastern suburbs. The project involves replacing aging structural components and installing new steel girders. Authorities say the upgraded bridge will improve both safety and traffic movement.

Heavy steel girders are being transported and assembled as part of the bridge's reconstruction. These components form the backbone of the new structure being built over active railway lines. The work is being carried out in phases to minimise disruption to rail operations.

The reconstruction cost of the Sion bridge has risen from Rs 42.8 crore to nearly Rs 50 crore. Civic officials attribute the increase to additional steel girders and the construction of approach roads. The revised proposal was placed before the BMC standing committee earlier this year.

In December 2025, BMC additional commissioner Abhijit Bangar directed officials to complete reconstruction of the Sion flyover by May 31, 2026. At the time, civic authorities outlined a schedule for girder launches and other works within railway limits. The project, however, later saw its completion target revised to August 15.

The bridge closure has forced motorists to depend on alternative routes through Sion, Dharavi and nearby corridors. Residents say travel times have increased significantly, especially during peak hours. Traffic authorities expect congestion to ease once the bridge is reopened.

BMC informed its standing committee in March 2026 that the reconstructed bridge would be opened for traffic by August 15. Members raised concerns over delays and the inconvenience faced by commuters, schoolchildren and pedestrians. The bridge has remained one of the city's most closely watched infrastructure projects.

The prolonged closure of the railway overbridge has affected connectivity between south Mumbai and the eastern suburbs. Commuters have been diverted to already crowded roads, contributing to bottlenecks across surrounding neighbourhoods. Residents have repeatedly called for faster execution of the project.

With fresh girders arriving and structural work advancing, civic authorities say the project is entering a crucial phase. The reopening of the bridge is expected to restore a vital traffic link that has been unavailable for nearly two years. For thousands of daily commuters, August 15 now represents a long-awaited milestone.