Sion flyover work to begin after rains

In a major relief for motorists, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has said that the Sion flyover on Eastern Express Highway (EEH) will not be shut during monsoon considering the renovation work on the flyover has been postponed until the end of monsoon.

Earlier, the MSRDC had plans to shut the flyover for renovation work in April. However, as the repair work did not get any contractors bidding for the same, it was postponed till May.

A MSRDC official said, "We have not been able to appoint any contractor yet. Now, we have decided that the contractor will be appointed during monsoon and flyover will be shut for repairs only post monsoon as renovation cannot be carried out during heavy downpour. Also, there will be increased traffic congestion due to the halt on the flyover."

The MSRDC plans to replace more than 150 bearings on the flyover at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore. 

The repair work is being initiated after a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay had suggested the repair of bearings.

The Sion flyover, a part of the EEH, witnesses thousands of vehicles passing through it everyday. It connects the southern part of the city with the central suburbs. Moreover, motorists heading towards Thane and Navi Mumbai also use it.

However, post monsoon this may result in more troubles for motorists considering civil construction work for Wadala-Thane Metro-4 corridor is also going to start on EEH, which may result in traffic piling or slowing down of vehicles on the EEH.