A newly constructed bridge replacing a 112-year-old colonial-era overpass next to Sion railway station in central Mumbai is expected to open to traffic soon, according to civic officials. The bridge will restore a key east-west connection between Sion, Kurla and Dharavi after vehicles faced diversions for about two years.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the bridge has a single span of 54.5 m and a width of 29 m. Its pillar-free design over the railway tracks provides space for the proposed fifth and sixth railway lines between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kurla. The opening date has not yet been finalised, although officials indicated that traffic could be allowed on the bridge in the second half of October.

The old structure was declared unsafe after a structural safety audit by IIT Bombay in 2019. Authorities then decided to dismantle and rebuild it as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, which includes two additional railway lines. The reconstructed bridge will support traffic between Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg and Sant Rohidas Marg in Dharavi, while reducing reliance on the Dharavi bridge, the BKC-Chunabhatti Link Road and the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road.

Central Railway reconstructed the main bridge and girder section over the tracks, while the BMC bridges department rebuilt and strengthened the approach roads. Central Railway completed concreting the deck slab on the first 500-t steel girder on August 21 and on the second girder on August 29, followed by work on crash barriers and the concrete wearing coat.

The western approach road was in its final stages, while work on the eastern approach began after Central Railway handed over part of the required land to the BMC on August 25. The railway authorities are funding the entire project. Although the tender schedule provides for completion by February 2027, the civic body directed officials to finish the work and open the bridge before that deadline.