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The number of vehicles on Mumbai’s roads is increasing steadily, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic and massive delays for commuters trying to reach their destination. The Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) that was inaugurated in 2009 helped not only by facilitating the diversion of traffic from the suburbs to south Mumbai and vice versa, but also reducing commute times. And the city could definitely use a few more efficient routes like the BWSL.
In light of this requirement, the government has proposed, once again, the connection of two points in the city that are in dire need of vehicular diversion for reduced travel times. Commuting from Versova to Worli during rush hours presently takes at least an hour and a half, the Western Express Highway being the fastest route. With a project that is scheduled to kick off next year, this time will be reduced to a mere 12 minutes!
According to the new proposal, the construction of yet another connector bridge – Versova Bandra Sealink (VBSL) – is set to begin in March 2018, with a completion date sometime in 2020. As reported by Hindustan Times, the budget of the project is INR 7,502 Crore. As reported by Times Now, ‘the main four by four-lane bridge of VBSL will be 9.60 kms. The cable-stayed bridge will be 0.30 kms long and the Balance Cantilever Bridge will be 0.10 km long.’ To further increase the commuters’ convenience, the VBSL will have connectors at Bandra, Otters Club, Juhu Link Road and Versova Link Road, and toll plazas at Bandra, Carter Road, Juhu-Koliwada and Nana-Nani Park.
Five bidders have qualified for the project, and the period of toll collection on the Bandra Worli Sea Link has been extended from from 2039 to 2052, to help raise funds for the construction of VBSL and other projects in the future. The project is, however, yet to receive a nod from the Forest Department as several mangrove areas require clearing for construction to commence.
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