Mumbai: Sion ROB to be demolished; Traffic to remain closed till July 2026

Finally, after a long wait, the Mumbai Police Administration has decided to demolish the Sion Road Over Bridge (ROB) for reconstruction. The bridge will remain closed from August 1, 2024 to July 2026 by the Mumbai Traffic Police. This bridge is expected to be demolished during this period. The historic Sion Bridge will be demolished on July 31.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay had declared the ropeway unsafe for traffic in 2020 after a structural audit, but postponed the demolition dates three times due to reasons such as board exams, Lok Sabha elections and inconvenience to local residents. Sion ROB was built in 1912.

Learn about alternative ways

According to the traffic police, an alternative route has been created during the demolition of the ROB. Vehicles going from Dr BA Road westbound to Sion Over Bridge and eastbound to LBS Marg or St Rohidas Road will be diverted here. All the above roads including Sion Mahim Link Road, KK Krishnan Marg, Sulochana Shetty Road near Sion Hospital Junction will be declared no-parking during this period. It will take at least 3 months to demolish Sion ROB. The reconstruction work will take at least 2 years. The project is expected to cost INR 50 crore.

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Passengers will get 'such' benefit

Two additional railway lines have been laid between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kurla on the Central Railway. Therefore, express trains and local trains which are currently using the same track will run on separate tracks. Due to this the trains will not run late. Local trains and mail trains will run on time.

A senior police officer of the Matunga traffic department said that all arrangements have been made by the traffic police in view of the demolition of the Sion ROB. Rest of the work will be completed in a day or two. All arrangements have been made including additional traffic wardens, indicators, no parking, no entry and alternate routes. All information regarding this is also available on the official website of the traffic police. Citizens are urged to follow traffic rules.