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• Central Railway has completed the launch of a 500-tonne steel girder for the reconstruction of the Sion Road Over Bridge.
• The operation marks a critical stage in the CSMT–Kurla fifth and sixth line expansion project aimed at increasing suburban rail capacity.
• The heavy engineering exercise was carried out during a restricted night block between Matunga and Kurla stations.
The reconstruction of Mumbai's Sion Road Over Bridge (ROB) has reached a major milestone, with Central Railway successfully positioning a 500-tonne steel girder over one of the city's busiest railway corridors. While the overnight operation itself lasted only a few hours, it capped months of preparation and engineering work aimed at bringing a key transport link closer to completion.
The bridge forms an important component of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Kurla fifth and sixth line project, which seeks to expand rail capacity and improve suburban train operations. Given the density of train traffic on the route, the installation had to be executed with precision during a tightly scheduled night block between Matunga and Kurla stations.
The massive steel structure was fabricated in northern India and assembled near Kalyan before being moved to the site. Engineers spent weeks preparing for the launch, setting up temporary support systems, conducting alignment checks and creating the necessary infrastructure to safely manoeuvre the span into position. Such operations require coordination among multiple technical teams, especially when working over active railway tracks in a densely populated urban environment.
Bridge girder launches of this scale are among the most complex tasks in railway infrastructure projects. Besides the challenge of handling enormous weight, authorities had to ensure that normal suburban rail operations resumed without disruption once the block period ended. The successful execution is being viewed as a significant achievement in the overall redevelopment of the ageing bridge.
The new Sion ROB is being designed with future requirements in mind. Its wider configuration will accommodate the additional railway lines planned under the corridor expansion project and provide sufficient space for operational growth in the years ahead. The upgraded structure is expected to support higher train frequencies and strengthen connectivity across the central suburbs.
With the steel span now in place, attention will shift to casting the bridge deck, laying the road surface, restoring utilities and installing protective barriers and other finishing elements. Once opened to traffic, the bridge will reconnect vital routes linking the Eastern Express Highway, LBS Road and Dharavi Road, reducing travel time and easing congestion for commuters who have been dealing with diversions since the closure of the old structure.
The Sion ROB reconstruction is more than a bridge replacement project. It is closely tied to Mumbai's larger effort to modernise its suburban railway infrastructure and improve east-west road connectivity. The successful installation of the 500-tonne girder therefore represents not just an engineering milestone, but a step forward in enhancing the city's long-term transport network.
Source Indian Railways
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