Dharavi flyover to close after Diwali to be rebuilt for CSMT-Kurla rail lines

The reopening of the Sion flyover in Mumbai has given motorists some relief from traffic jams. That relief is unlikely to last, as the Dharavi flyover will also be closed after Diwali, following the Sion bridge.

The fifth and sixth rail lines have been proposed between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla. For this work, the British-era bridge will be demolished and built afresh. Traffic pressure in central Mumbai may rise again, and motorists will have to take other routes.

The Dharavi flyover connects Sion, Dharavi and the surrounding area. It is an important route for central Mumbai traffic, and a large number of vehicles use it every day. The decision to demolish and rebuild it was taken to expand railway infrastructure.

The conditions for closing the bridge are also clear. It will be closed only after the plan to divert traffic is complete after Diwali and the necessary permission is received from the authority concerned. Motorists from Dharavi, Sion and nearby areas may therefore face new traffic arrangements after Diwali.

The portion of the bridge that passes over the rail tracks is obstructing work on the new lines, and will be demolished and rebuilt for that reason. Both Central Railway and the Mumbai municipal corporation will have key roles in the reconstruction. Central Railway will build the portion over the rail tracks. The municipal corporation will be responsible for the approach roads and other related construction.

The Dahyabhai Shah flyover near Sion Hospital, also known as the Sion Hospital bridge, had been closed for 2 years. During this period, motorists had to take other routes. At peak hours in particular, heavy congestion built up on 90 Feet Road. With that bridge now reopened, there is some relief. But if the Dharavi flyover is closed, the traffic burden in the same area may increase again. Those travelling through Dharavi, Sion and the surrounding areas may have to take a longer detour.

The jams could trouble not only ordinary motorists but also emergency services. Ambulances bringing patients to Sion Hospital and taking them from it may get stuck in traffic. If ambulances do not reach the hospital in time, emergencies could be affected. Proper traffic arrangements will therefore be necessary before the bridge is closed.

Demands are growing for a separate bridge or another safe alternative arrangement for pedestrians before the bridge is closed. There is also an expectation that the traffic police and the agencies concerned will plan carefully by fixing alternative routes for vehicles.

If reconstruction of the Dharavi flyover begins after Diwali, the traffic equation in central Mumbai will change. Commuters will need to watch for traffic changes in the coming days and plan their journeys in advance.