BEST has restored services on several major bus routes after the Sion Railway Overbridge reopened to all vehicular traffic, reconnecting key links between the Eastern Express Highway, LBS Marg and Mumbai’s western suburbs.
The restoration followed directions from Mumbai Traffic Police, BEST chief spokesperson Sunil Vaidya said in a media statement. The routes resumed through Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sant Rohidas Marg and LBS Marg, with the transport undertaking saying the changes would improve connectivity and travel times for passengers.
The routes restored include A-7, 11 Ltd., A-22, 29 Ltd., 181, 255 Ltd., C-305, A-312, 341, 348 Ltd., A-375, A-376, 411 and A-C 505. These services connect areas on both sides of the bridge and are used by passengers travelling between central Mumbai, eastern suburbs and western-suburban destinations.
BEST has also modified the routing of buses travelling towards Kalanagar, Dharavi Depot and Raheja Hospital in Mahim. These services will resume movement through Pivala Bangla and Naik Nagar following the bridge’s reopening.
Routes A-375 and A-C 505, operating from Everard Nagar, will now proceed directly towards Kalanagar through Sant Rohidas Marg. The change restores a direct link for passengers travelling from the Everard Nagar area towards the Kalanagar side of the city.
The undertaking has separately revised two air-conditioned services. Route A-176 will now operate between Akashganga Society and Rani Laxmibai Chowk, bypassing Dharavi Depot and Kala Killa Market.
Route A-463 has also been converted into an 11.4-km circular service. The route will connect Plaza in Dadar with Rani Laxmibai Chowk through Labour Camp and Lokmanya Tilak Hospital.
The Sion Railway Overbridge is an important road connection in Mumbai’s central-eastern transport network. Its reopening allows vehicular movement to resume along a route linking the Eastern Express Highway with LBS Marg and onward connections to the western suburbs. The BEST changes indicate a return to regular bus movements on corridors that had been affected while traffic arrangements around the bridge were in place.
For commuters, the changes affect both ordinary and air-conditioned bus services, including routes serving Dadar, Everard Nagar, Kalanagar, Dharavi, Mahim and Rani Laxmibai Chowk. Passengers using these routes will need to note the revised alignments, particularly the A-176 bypass and the new circular operation of A-463.
BEST said the restored and modified services would operate along the revised corridors following the bridge’s reopening. The undertaking’s announcement did not specify separate frequency changes or revised schedules for the routes.
