Sion ROB reconstruction work achieves major milestone with successful launch of 500 Tonne Girders in just 6 hours
· Free Press Journal
The reconstruction of the Sion Road Over Bridge (ROB) has achieved a major engineering milestone with the successful launching of the second 500-tonne semi-through steel girder. With this, the launching of both main girders of the new bridge has been completed within a remarkably short period of two days, utilising two separate three-hour night corridor blocks.
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The second girder was launched during a specially planned night corridor block between Matunga and Kurla, following the successful launching of the first girder earlier. Both massive steel girders were positioned over the operational railway corridor through carefully planned night blocks, enabling the challenging works to be executed within the limited block duration while minimising disruption to suburban train operations.
This achievement marks a significant step forward in the reconstruction of the Sion ROB, which is being undertaken in connection with the CSMT–Kurla 5th and 6th line project, one of Mumbai’s major railway capacity enhancement projects.
Each girder weighs approximately 500 tonnes with an overall span of about 54.5 metres. Launching such massive steel structures over active railway tracks in a densely built urban environment required meticulous planning, detailed engineering arrangements, precise equipment handling and close coordination among Central Railway and the executing agency.
The girder was fabricated at Nagpur and subsequently assembled at the site on the east-end approach. Extensive preparatory works including erection of temporary trestles, launching arrangements, hydraulic systems, winching arrangements, alignment checks and comprehensive safety preparations were undertaken prior to the launching operation.
With both main girders now successfully launched and positioned, the project has entered the next phase of deck slab construction, road approaches, road surfacing, crash barriers and other associated works.
The new ROB is being constructed with a wider railway span of approximately 54.5 metres, compared with about 40 metres in the earlier structure. The increased span is essential for accommodating the proposed additional railway lines under the CSMT–Kurla 5th and 6th line project.
Once commissioned, the reconstructed Sion ROB will restore vital east-west road connectivity between the Eastern Express Highway, LBS Road and Dharavi Road, providing substantial relief to commuters and reducing dependence on longer alternative routes following the closure of the old bridge.
The successful launching of these girders reflects the coordinated efforts, meticulous planning and round-the-clock execution by Central Railway, bringing the long-awaited reconstruction of the Sion ROB more closer to completion.