Mumbai: Heavy vehicles may be banned on Sion bridge

The IIT bridge audit report had sounded an alert about the dilapidated condition of the Sion ROB as far back as 2020. File pic/Satej Shinde

With the demolition of the Sion road overbridge (ROB) scheduled to happen after the monsoon, Central Railway (CR) has proposed the restriction of heavy vehicles on the "distressed" structure as a safety measure starting this weekend. No vehicle taller than 3.60 metres in height will be able to ply the bridge from Saturday. The restrictions are likely to affect about 20 BEST bus routes that pass through the stretch.

"The ROB is presently in a state of distress and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, in its structural audit report has declared the ROB as unsafe, needing urgent action to ensure safety. It is therefore proposed to provide height gauges at both sides of the ROB with effect from June 21/22 (midnight of Friday/Saturday) in order to restrict the entry of heavy vehicles on the ROB so as to ensure safety. These height gauges will have a clearance of 3.60 metres," a CR spokesperson said.

"CR has also requested the traffic department to issue suitable traffic regulation guidelines for road users. The Sion ROB, apart from being in a poor state, is also infringing on the proposed fifth and sixth line between CSMT-Kurla and hence it was scheduled to be dismantled and reconstructed. CR requests the support of the public in carrying out this important work and regrets the inconvenience caused," he added.

"We will be able to confirm the status of bus routes and buses plying the bridge once we get a notification from the traffic police and the Railways," a BEST official said.

A bridge too far

The IIT bridge audit report had sounded an alert about the dilapidated condition of the Sion ROB as early as 2020, stating that keeping it hanging over running rail lines was extremely dangerous as its lifespan had expired.

The final plan to demolish the bridge had been worked out by January 20, 2024, but former local MP Rahul Shewale had stopped the work multiple times, saying that locals should have been taken into confidence and that he would take up the issue with the CM.

Residents had stated that the bridge was the only way for students to reach school. Railways on Tuesday said that the pedestrian path of the bridge will be kept open for now as the bridge gets demolished.

Experts' recommendations

The IIT report, a copy of which is with mid-day, states that the first two I girders from the north end (towards Kalyan), the RCC deck slab and the RCC parapet wall are in a dilapidated condition. It has been recommended that RCC parapet wall and RCC deck slab be dismantled after taking all the safety measures. There is also an urgent need to remove the pipeline fixed between the first two girders.

CR plans to construct a new ROB in place of the existing one in coordination with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. CR and the civic body will bear project expenses amounting to Rs 23 crore and Rs 26 crore respectively.

3.60m
Height limit for vehicles on the ROB