A meeting involving representatives from the Central Railway (CR) and the state government, anticipated to address the potential demolition of the British era Sion Railway Overbridge (ROB), is likely to be held next week, The Indian Express reported. The demolition proceedings were temporarily suspended following intervention by MP Rahul Shewale, who advocated on behalf of concerned local residents citing traffic-related apprehensions.
Why was this meeting postponed earlier?
Last month, Shewale, a minister associated with the Shinde Sena, addressed the matter with CR officials, stressing the importance of prioritising community engagement in light of potential traffic disruptions. Despite CR having obtained all necessary traffic clearances and permissions for the demolition, the process was subsequently halted pending a meeting among the authorities.
The meeting was delayed, partly attributed to Shewale’s participation in the parliamentary budget session of 2024. Nonetheless, a CR official indicated that the meeting is anticipated to take place in the upcoming week, following which a definitive decision regarding the demolition of the bridge may be reached.
The demolition process was expected to take six months, which is to be followed by an 18-month reconstruction period. The demolition is intended to create space for laying tracks for the fifth and sixth lines, aiming to enhance the efficiency of mail and suburban train services by providing dedicated tracks.
Sion Bridge unsafe
Earlier, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT B) had declared the Sion bridge unsafe due to the deterioration of some critical structural components. The institute had flagged the safety concerns in its April 2020 audit report. According to the structural audit report, the first two I-girders on the north side, along with the RCC deck slab and RCC parapet wall, are in a deteriorated state and deemed unsafe. The report recommended that repairs or rehabilitation should be completed within three months. Failure to do so would necessitate the closure of the bridge, it added.
Although repair and maintenance activities on the bridge are routinely carried out, the recent concern flagged by IIT B has sparked deliberations regarding the potential demolition, as mentioned by the CR official. It’s worth noting that the Sion bridge, built in 1912 during the British era, plays a crucial role as a connecting link between Dharavi, LBS Road, and the Eastern Express Highway.