Sion flyover to be closed for 52 days for repair work suggested as per IIT audit report

One of the important flyovers in Sion which connects the Eastern Express Highway will be closed for the next 52 days, confirmed the officials. It is said that the bridge will be under repairs and the work will be completed as planned to ensure the commute becomes easy for Mumbaikars. With more than 3 lakh commuters using the flyover ever day, officials state that that around 140 shock absorber bearings will need to be replaced.

However, keeping the traffic concerns in mind, the Mumbai Traffic Police department recently met the officials at the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and after thorough discussion, it has been decided that the bridge will be partially closed for the first 32 days and then completely closed for the remaining 20 days. The Joint commissioner of Police (Traffic division), Madhukar Pandey, confirmed the same with the media.

As per reports, for the first 32 days, the Sion flyover will be closed for 12 hours between 12 AM and 12 PM,  Thursdays to Sundays.

The audit report submitted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) mentioned that the pillars of the bridge had become weak and hence repairing the same on immediate basis was the necessary measure suggested by the experts.

One of the traffic police officers said that the team was earlier told about a four month process and this would have created traffic problems for a longer time. However, since the road beneath the flyover will be kept functional to reduce the issues. Officials also hope that the last 20 days in the month of April would be a good time to keep the flyover closed completely due to school vacations, which ensures no school buses and less traffic during the period.