Mumbai: BMC holds meet to expedite construction of Sion FOB

The portion of the structure over railway premises is around 40 metres long. File Pic/Satej Shinde

While the authorities are attempting to build a foot overbridge (FOB) to facilitate pedestrian movement amid the demolition of the 110-year-old Sion road overbridge by June 25, a few hurdles still remain. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has yet to approve a proposal for tree trimming, and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) is yet to shift high-tension wires.

The Sion bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic since August 2024, and the railway authorities have been dismantling it. Pedestrians, demanded that an FOB be created before the structure is torn down. Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner, held a meeting to review the progress of the bridge-related work, in the presence of Anil Kumbhare, joint police commissioner (traffic), on April 24. On January 30, 2025, mid-day reported how pending permissions for tree trimming and cutting were stalling the project.

During the meeting, the timeline for the completion of the Sion FOB was discussed. "BEST will shift high-tension wires and the BMC will allow tree trimming immediately," Bangar said. The shifting of high-tension cables will be completed by April 27. The construction of a pedestrian underpass toward the FOB will start in October. The civic body is aiming to rebuild the Sion ROB by May 31, 2026.

Bangar said that though the reconstruction of the Bellasis bridge at Mumbai Central was supposed to be completed by April 2026, the civic body was trying to complete the project by November 2025. Work on the Carnac bridge near Masjid Bunder station is in its final phase. Eight pillars on the eastern side have been completed, and five out of the 40 steel girders have arrived at the project site. Bangar has directed that both approach roads be ready by June 5 and the bridge be completed five days later.