Mumbai, October 10: The Sion Flyover on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road is likely to remain closed on for nearly two months from October to December for maintenance. Due to this, more traffic jams can be expected on the Eastern Express Highway as it connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai. Around Rs 1.9 Crore will be spent on repairing the bridge. According to reports, bearings of the bridge, located between its pillars and viaduct girders will be replaced. In addition to this, expansion joints of the flyover will also be replaced. Mumbai’s JJ Flyover Speed Limit Restricted to 50 Kmph, Offenders Will Be Fined Rs 1000

According to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, the repairing work will take at least two weeks to begin as new bearings are still to be procured. With the closure of the flyover, the commuters will have to use the road below it. The period for which the bridge will remain close depends on how much traffic movement the police can control. The maintenance work was earlier scheduled for May and July, but due to the monsoons, it was delayed.

Recently, in an audit, it was found out that there was a need to repair the bridge to avoid any unfortunate incidents. In July, Gokhale Bridge connecting Andheri East to West collapsed on tracks in Andheri station. An official inquiry conducted into the collapse pinned the blame on officials and staff employed by the Railways for the fatal accident which claimed one life and left four people with grievous injuries. After this collapse, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, announced a fresh audit of all foot-over-bridges in Mumbai region. The Minister said at least 455 bridges would be surveyed jointly by the BMC and Railways within the next six months.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2018 05:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).