Sea link expansion: Versova
bridge may be partly on land
 Mumbai:
The extension of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is likely to be
partly through the sea and partly along the coast. The state
administration believes implementing this option for
constructing the Bandra-Versova bridge would help the government
save crores of rupees.
“Of the three options with the state government, having part
of bridge on the sea and the remaining on the coastal area is
the most feasible. We have approached the environment ministry
for the necessary permission,’’ said public works (public
undertaking) minister, Jaidatta Kshirsagar.
Constructing a complete bridge on the coastal area or a
bridge completely in the middle of the sea are the other
options. These three options were given by the engineering
consultant in a report submitted last year to the state
government.
The proposed Bandra-Versova Sea Link will connect to the
existing Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Once this connectivity is
complete, the distance between Worli and Andheri is likely to be
covered in less than 25 minutes. The bridge will be of eight
lanes and there will be traffic exit points at Khar and Andheri.
According to the feasibility report, a bridge measuring over
10 km—partly through the sea and partly along the coast—would
cost around Rs 2,260 crore. If approved, the portion of the
bridge on the coastal area will be 3 km in length and remaining
will be in the middle of the sea. Other options—one constructing
a bridge in the middle of the sea and measuring around 10.15 km
would cost around Rs 3,155 crore, secondly constructing a bridge
measuring 10.63 km completely on coastal area would cost Rs
2,372 crore.
Before going ahead, the state government has sought an
economic feasibility report on the project. “Depending on the
outcome of this report, the future course of action would be
decided,’’ said an MSRDC official. “The administrative
procedures would be completed within a year,’’ Kshirsagar
stated. “The bridge will be completed in another three-four
years,’’ he added.
|