BEST restores several Sion-Dharavi bus routes to old paths after Sion flyover reopens

BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) had to divert several bus routes because the Sion railway flyover was closed. The flyover has now reopened to traffic, and the undertaking has put many of these services back on their earlier routes. According to a BEST statement, the new arrangement came into effect on October 23.

The restoration affects buses running from Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Rupam Cinema and Everard Nagar towards Kalanagar, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg and Mahim. BEST has also announced changes to some circular bus services linking Dharavi depot, Hinduja Hospital and nearby areas.

Routes 151, 255 and 341, running from Rani Laxmibai Chowk to Kalanagar, are back on their old path. The buses leave Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion) via Sant Rohidas Marg and Pivla Bunglow, then pass through Sant Chennaiah Marg, Dharavi depot, Naik Nagar and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg as before. They proceed to Kalanagar via Tapase Chowk (T-junction) and the Dharavi-Sion Link Road.

Services from Rani Laxmibai Chowk to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg via Rupam Cinema are also back on the old route. These include routes E-312 and 384. The route links Rupam Cinema and Rani Laxmibai Chowk to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg via Road No. 1, Sant Rohidas Marg and Vasantdada Naik Marg.

Route E-305, from Everard Nagar to Kalanagar, has also returned to its old path. The bus runs via Vasantdada Naik Marg, Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sant Rohidas Marg and Pivla Bunglow to reach Sant Chennaiah Marg, Dharavi depot, Naik Nagar and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. It then goes to Kalanagar via Tapase Chowk (T-junction) and the Dharavi-Sion Link Road. BEST has clarified that there will be no change in route E-346. Route A-C 505, from Everard Nagar to Kalanagar, is also counted among the restored routes. It reaches Kalanagar via Vasantdada Naik Marg, Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sant Rohidas Marg and connecting roads in Dharavi.

Route E-306, from Everard Nagar to Reti Bunder in Mahim, is back on its old route. The bus passes through Vasantdada Naik Marg, Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sant Rohidas Marg and Pivla Bunglow. It then follows the earlier route via Sant Chennaiah Marg, Dharavi depot and Naik Nagar to Tapase Chowk (T-junction). From there it goes via Central Railway Line Road and Vanwari Compound to Reti Bunder and Mahim.

Services from Rashtra Sevika Laxmibai Kelkar Marg near Lokmanya Tilak Hospital to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg have also been restored. These are routes E-7, E-22, 22 and 411. The buses go via Lokmanya Tilak Hospital, Swami Shri Vallabhdas Marg, Sant Rohidas Marg and Vasantdada Naik Marg to join Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. Routes 11 and C-305, from the same point to Kalanagar, are also restored. They run via Lokmanya Tilak Hospital, Vasantdada Naik Marg, Rani Laxmibai Chowk, Sant Rohidas Marg and Pivla Bunglow, then via Dharavi depot and Naik Nagar towards Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg.

On the circular services, route A-176, linking Dharavi depot and Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, will no longer run on the stretch between Akashganga Society and Dharavi depot. Instead, the bus will go from Akashganga Society via Sant Rohidas Marg, Vasantdada Naik Marg and Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion). As a result, this route's bus will not stop at the Dharavi depot and Kalakila Market bus stops.

The path of circular route A-863, between Veer Hutatma Bhai Kotwal Garden (Plaza) and Dharavi depot, has also been redrawn. Towards the garden, this service will run via Labour Camp and Dharavi depot, and the old stretch from Labour Camp to Dharavi depot has been discontinued. The old stretch from Dharavi depot towards Dadar via Akashganga (K. K. Krishnan Menon) is also no longer part of this service. Under the new arrangement, buses will go from Rani Laxmibai Chowk (Sion) via Labour Camp, Sulochana Shetty Marg, Lokmanya Tilak Hospital and Rashtra Sevika Laxmibai Kelkar Marg to Veer Hutatma Bhai Kotwal Garden (Plaza). The total length of this circular route will be 11.4 km.

All these changes are part of BEST's revised traffic arrangement after the reopening of the Sion railway flyover. Officials have said passengers using these routes should check the changed route details before setting out.