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• The Vidyavihar Railway Overbridge, Sion East-West Connector and Mahalaxmi East-West Connector have missed revised completion deadlines, delaying expected traffic relief across Mumbai.
• Rehabilitation work, railway modifications and land acquisition issues have pushed the Vidyavihar bridge beyond its June 2026 target.
• The Sion connector awaits steel girder launching by Central Railway, with completion now targeted for mid-August, subject to weather conditions.
• The Mahalaxmi connector has also been delayed and is now expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Three key infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion across Mumbai — the Vidyavihar Railway Overbridge (ROB), Sion East-West Connector and Mahalaxmi East-West Connector — have encountered fresh delays, extending completion timelines and raising concerns over commuter movement during the monsoon season.
Among the affected projects, the Vidyavihar Railway Overbridge has missed its revised June 2026 completion target. Conceived as a crucial alternative to the heavily congested Chembur–Santacruz Link Road, the bridge is expected to improve east-west connectivity and reduce travel time for thousands of daily commuters. However, rehabilitation requirements on the western side, railway-related design modifications, tree-cutting approvals, and land acquisition challenges have slowed progress. Originally commissioned in 2018 and targeted for completion by 2022, the project has witnessed multiple setbacks over the years.
The Sion East-West Connector has also fallen behind schedule. The connector is designed to improve movement between eastern and western suburbs while reducing pressure on key traffic corridors, including the Sion-Panvel Highway and Dharavi's 90 Feet Road. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had aimed to complete the project by mid-July 2026, the timeline has now been extended to mid-August.
A major reason for the delay is the pending launch of steel girders by Central Railway. Civic officials have indicated that even after girder installation, at least 15 consecutive dry days will be required to complete concreting work on the bridge approaches. With the monsoon already underway, weather conditions are expected to play a significant role in determining whether the revised deadline can be achieved.
Traffic diversions associated with the project have already affected commuters in the area. Motorists travelling through Sion, Dharavi and adjoining corridors continue to face congestion due to lane restrictions and construction-related bottlenecks. Residents have expressed concern that prolonged delays could worsen traffic conditions throughout the rainy season.
The Mahalaxmi East-West Connector has similarly missed its earlier completion target. Planned as an alternative crossing to improve connectivity across the railway corridor and reduce dependence on the existing Mahalaxmi bridge, the project was initially expected to be completed in October 2025. However, administrative hurdles and engineering complexities have pushed the expected opening date to the end of 2026.
The continued delay in all three projects comes despite efforts by the BMC, railway authorities and traffic police to accelerate execution through regular review meetings and stricter monitoring mechanisms. Officials maintain that work is progressing, but acknowledge that technical requirements and coordination challenges have affected schedules.
With Mumbai entering the peak monsoon period, the postponement of these critical connectors is expected to place additional strain on already congested transport corridors. Commuters who had anticipated relief from chronic traffic bottlenecks will now have to wait longer as authorities work towards completing the long-pending infrastructure projects.
For more similar or related stories, you can check the links below:
BMC sets new deadlines for key bridge and flyover projects in Mumbai
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