23 October,2026 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Bikers haul concrete barriers aside in a bid to use the Sion rail overbridge less than an hour after the structure was inaugurated on Thursday afternoon. PICS/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
Frustration boiled over near the newly inaugurated Sion rail overbridge on Thursday afternoon when around 100 two-wheeler riders, angered by the delay in opening the structure to the public, moved heavy concrete barricades to make way for bikes travelling from Sion station towards Dharavi.
[popcorn number="1 pm" desc="Approximate time Sion bridge was inaugurated" class="Default"]
A civic official present near the Sion bridge informed senior mid-day photographer Sayyed Sameer Abedi that the formal inauguration had taken place between 1 pm and 1.30 pm, but the bridge would be fully opened to the public only between 5 pm and 6 pm, as a pandal on one side of the structure was to be dismantled by evening.
Around 1.45 pm, the lensman witnessed two-wheeler riders, who had gathered near the stretch connecting Sion station and Dharavi, get off their bikes and move the concrete barricades blocking the point of entry. They eventually managed to shift one block, creating an opening for two-wheelers to pass.
Commuters waiting for the bridge to open expressed anger at the authorities, questioning the purpose of holding an inauguration when the bridge, which had been shut for more than two years, was still inaccessible to the public. "We don't understand the point in not allowing traffic to flow once all the official ceremonies are done. Other than taking matters in our hands, we had no option. It would just have been one more day of inconvenience, that too for no reason," said a motorist travelling from Dharavi to Sion.
The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road flyover in Goregaon East, which connects Dindoshi Court and Film City. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE
The Vidyavihar East-West Bridge and Goregaon connector of Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) bridge were also inaugurated virtually in the afternoon by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, but traffic movement was restricted till late evening, frustrating commuters eager to use the new infrastructure.
Bikers move aside concrete barriers in a bid to use the Sion rail overbridge less than an hour after the structure was inaugurated on Thursday afternoon. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
The Vidyavihar bridge remained closed as authorities had to remove decorations put up for the inauguration ceremony. "We were happy that finally the bridge has opened. But we were not allowed to use it as late as 7 pm. I was near the spot around that time and still barricades were not moved," said Narendra Dabholkar, a resident of Vidyavihar West.
The Vidyavihar bridge, which commuters said they were not allowed to access immediately after inauguration. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
The carriageway of the connector from Film City towards Dindoshi Court remained closed until the evening as a pandal had been erected on the stretch because of which locals expressed anger. "I am a struggling artiste and live near Oberoi Mall. Reaching Film City now for shoots will hopefully be easier with this connector opening," said Himani Rajput, a commuter.
Despite the initial inconvenience, commuters by and large welcomed the opening of all three bridges. "Crossing between the east and west sides has been a daily struggle, as we had to take the Eastern Express Highway or the Eastern Freeway till today. And these two routes are jam-packed during office hours. This bridge will save us considerable time and make our daily commute easier," said Sanjay Mahadik, a resident of Vidyavihar.
Bharti Rane, who travels from Ghatkopar to Sion Hospital by road daily, said, "Traffic around Sion can be extremely frustrating, particularly during office hours. The bridge should make crossing this stretch much easier. We have been waiting for this bridge for a long time. It is disappointing that traffic was not allowed immediately after the inauguration, but its opening will eventually bring much-needed relief to daily commuters, especially to all those students who travel from Dharavi to Sion."
