The Hindu Business Line : Bandra - Worli sea-link may be ready by next April

Mumbai May 8 The six km-long Bandra-Worli sea link would be completed by April 2008. Work on the sea link is being undertaken on war footing and will continue even in monsoon season, said the MaharashtraPublic Works Minister, Mr Anil Deshmukh.

The sea link project has been delayed by about five years due to the opposition by local fisherman and cost overruns.

Estimates

The Bandra Worli Sea-Link is an 8-lane, twin carriageway having a cable-stayed bridge design. It will enable speedy travel between Bandra and Worli. Traffic studies have estimated that due to the sea link, the savings in fuel and vehicle operation cost would be Rs 100 crore per annum. Motorist using this bridge will save about 30 minutes of travel time and delays of 23 signals, which motorists currently face. The link will be able to accommodate about 1.20 lakh motorists per day.

Currently, Mahim Causeway is the only link connecting the western suburbs with the island city of Mumbai. This North-South traffic corridor is very congested and during the peak hours results in a bottleneck at Mahim Causeway.

Mr Deshmukh said that about 55 per cent of the total work on the sea link is over and would continue on crucial cable stayed section of the link in spite of the monsoon season. The cable-stayed section of the bridge would be as high as a 53-storied building. At the current rate, the sea link will cost about Rs 1,306 crore, he said.

Out of the eight lanes on the link, two lanes would be dedicated for buses. Advance surveillance systems and emergency support systems are also being incorporated in the link. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) is the main body overseeing the constructions of the link.

Power back-up

Mr Sharad Sabnis, Chief Engineer, MSRDC, said that power back-up was not incorporated in the original plan and that it would be too expensive to give power back for 6 km long sea bridge. Back-up power would only be supplied to the control room on the bridge, he said.

The motorist using the bridge will have to pay a toll: Rs 30 for cars, Rs 45 for light commercial vehicle and Rs 60 for trucks and buses.

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Bandra - Worli sea-link may be ready by next April