Sion Bridge Closure: Mumbai's Roads Jammed As New Construction Disrupts Traffic

According to Lokmat, the traffic situation in Mumbai has significantly worsened following the closure of the 112-year-old Sion Railway Bridge. The closure, which began on August 1, has led to severe traffic jams on the routes connecting Dharavi, Sion, and Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) throughout the day.

Collaboration Details

The Sion Railway Bridge is being replaced as part of a major construction project involving the Central Railway and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. The bridge has been closed to traffic, and the construction work is divided between the Railways and the Municipal Corporation. Although the project is expected to last over two and a half years, delays may extend this period further.

Impact On Daily Commutes

The closure has caused significant disruptions for daily commuters, particularly students from the numerous schools and colleges in the Sion and Dharavi areas, including Sadhana College, DS High School, Our Lady, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vidyalaya. On the first day of the closure, students faced delays of up to an hour and a half, compared to the usual 10-15 minutes travel time.

Traffic Diversion Challenges

Traffic has been rerouted due to the bridge closure. Vehicles now divert through Dharavi and face congestion at various points:

1. The road in front of Kalpana Cinema has narrowed due to ongoing work, leading to bottlenecks.
2. Dharavi T Junction is congested as vehicles from multiple directions converge.
3. The road through Matunga Labour Camp is also narrow, causing traffic to back up to Sion Hospital.

Public Transport Struggles

Public transport has been severely affected. Passengers using BEST bus services reported significant delays. For instance, the BEST bus number 411, which typically covers the Wadala to Chandivali route in three hours, took four and a half hours on Friday morning due to traffic issues.

Impact On Local Businesses

The disruption is also affecting local businesses in Dharavi. Many entrepreneurs, who previously travelled to Masjid Bandar for raw materials, now face lengthy detours, impacting their operations and delivery schedules.

The extended closure of the Sion Bridge is expected to continue causing traffic issues and disruptions for the foreseeable future, making daily commutes and local business operations increasingly challenging.