Considering the ongoing exams of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, the Central Railway has postponed the demolition of the British-era Sion rail overbridge in Mumbai.
According to a CR official, demolition work will now commence after the end of the board exams — HSC on March 19 and SSC on March 26 — to ensure minimal disruption to students.
The decision was made following concerns raised by the Mumbai traffic police joint commissioner who highlighted potential inconveniences the bridge’s closure could cause students.
Earlier, the bridge’s demolition was scheduled to begin at midnight Tuesday, February 27, after an initial postponement from January 20. The first postponement was due to concerns of local residents, including MP Rahul Shewale, regarding potential traffic disruptions.
The demolition process is expected to last six months, followed by an 18-month reconstruction period. This initiative aims to create space for laying tracks for the fifth and sixth lines, improving the efficiency of mail and suburban train services with dedicated tracks.
For the unversed, Sion Bridge, which was built in 1912, serves as a crucial link connecting Dharavi, LBS Road, and the Eastern Express Highway. Its closure could lead to congestion on other east-west connectors.
Safety concerns were raised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in its April 2020 audit report, which declared the Sion bridge unsafe due to deteriorating structural components.
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