The Sion railway bridge reconstruction is nearing completion, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation directing agencies to finish the project and open the bridge by October 15, 2026, several months ahead of the original tender schedule.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar inspected the site and reviewed the progress of the work, according to an official statement. He directed officials to complete the remaining construction on priority and make the bridge operational before the revised deadline.
The bridge is being rebuilt under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-2, through which Central Railway is developing the fifth and sixth railway lines between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kurla. The existing Sion bridge, which is around 112 years old, had been declared unsafe. Its reconstruction is also required to create space for the expansion of the railway lines below it.
The main bridge structure within railway limits is being reconstructed by the railway authorities. The BMC Bridges Department is responsible for rebuilding and strengthening the approach roads within its jurisdiction, in coordination with Central Railway. The project is being funded by the railway department.
Central Railway completed concreting the deck slab of the first 500-tonne steel girder on August 21, followed by concreting of the second girder on August 29. Crash barriers for both girders are now being constructed, while a concrete wearing coat is being applied to the deck slabs.
The new bridge will be a 54.5-metre single-span structure and will be 29 metres wide. Because it will not have supporting pillars below the deck, the design will leave space for the planned expansion of the fifth and sixth railway lines between CSMT and Kurla.
Work on the approach roads is also advancing on both sides of the railway corridor. On the western side, the approach road connecting Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg to Sant Rohidas Marg in Dharavi is in its final stage of reconstruction. On the eastern side, Central Railway handed over part of the land required for the approach road to the BMC on August 25. Construction has since begun, along with other reinforced concrete works.
The bridge is expected to improve traffic movement around Sion, Dharavi, Kurla and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, areas where congestion is frequently reported. The earlier tender schedule had targeted completion by February 2027, but the civic administration has now instructed the coordinating agencies to complete the project in October.
BMC and Central Railway are continuing to coordinate the bridge and approach-road works. The October 15 deadline is the next major milestone for restoring the crossing and making the new structure available to road users.
