Mumbai: BMC Reviews 59 Civic Proposals; Sion ROB Likely to Open by August 15

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) standing committee on Friday examined several major civic infrastructure proposals, including the long-delayed Sion east–west railway overbridge and a crucial flyover connecting the Eastern Express Highway with Airoli as part of the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR). During the meeting, the committee also halted a proposal to construct a town hall-cum-gymkhana in Fort, raising questions about urban planning priorities in south Mumbai. In total, around 59 proposals were presented before the committee for discussion, reflecting a broad review of civic development plans and infrastructure upgrades across the city.

Officials informed the committee that the Sion railway overbridge located near Sion Railway Station is expected to be completed and opened for traffic by August 15. The historic bridge, which is more than a century old, has remained shut since August 2024, disrupting connectivity between south Mumbai and the eastern suburbs. The cost of the project has risen from ₹42.8 crore to nearly ₹50 crore after additional work such as installation of steel girders and construction of approach roads was included. A proposal seeking approval for the revised project cost was therefore placed before the committee for consideration.

Several members of the committee expressed concern over the delay in completing the bridge and the inconvenience caused to residents and commuters. Rajshree Shirwadkar, chairperson of the education committee and a member of the standing committee, highlighted that hawkers have occupied areas around the construction site. This has made movement difficult for pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren who must pass through narrow lanes daily. Ajanta Yadav also raised concerns, noting that the locality houses multiple schools and hospitals. She questioned when the bridge would finally open, stating that prolonged delays have worsened traffic congestion and created serious challenges for pedestrians.

Responding to the concerns raised by the committee, additional municipal commissioner Vipin Sharma assured members that the Sion railway overbridge will be opened to vehicular traffic by August 15. Meanwhile, the committee decided to stall the proposal to build a town hall-cum-gymkhana in Fort. Members from different political parties argued that constructing a recreational facility may benefit only a limited section of citizens. Instead, they suggested that the available land should be used to strengthen parking infrastructure in south Mumbai, where space constraints and growing vehicle numbers have created a pressing demand for additional parking facilities.

Among the 59 proposals discussed was also a plan to build a 1.3-kilometre flyover linking the Eastern Express Highway with Airoli under the GMLR project. The contract for this infrastructure work has been awarded at ₹1,389 crore, which is about 6.8 percent higher than the initial estimated cost. According to BMC records, the total cost of the overall project has now increased to ₹2,495 crore. Civic authorities stated in the tender document that construction of the flyover is expected to be completed within 36 months, excluding the monsoon period, once the work officially begins.