Worlikar's want to alter sea-link plan

Citizens groups have thrown up two alternatives to one of the link bridges that join the Bandra Worli Sea Link to the mainland.

They are opposed to the current plan to join the sea-link to Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road, arguing that a bridge at that location would lead to congestion at Worli sea face, making it difficult for people to use the promenade for recreation.

One suggestion is to construct the link bridge at Mahakali Road and take it all the way to Dr Annie Besant Road. The other is to link the sea-link to Worli Dairy.

However, with the first phase of the construction nearing completion, Ramakant Jha, executive director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has dismissed the first suggestion. Though he did not have any objections to the second, he said the citizens’ groups would have to convince the government.

Jha said, "I agree the bridge would make the Worli sea face crowded, but I cannot change the plans at this stage."

Moreover, he added that one of the proposed advantages of the sea-link is the decongestion of Annie Besant Road, an important arterial route for the city. "What is the point of having a bridge to Mahakali Road and Annie Besant Road when the purpose is to decongest the latter?" he asked.

Moreover, Mahakali has a channel for fishermen as well as a Coast Guard base, which has sensitive equipment."We got the environmental clearance because our plans do not affect the livelihood of the fishermen in any way. The bridge the residents are asking for would destroy their fishing business. Also, building any road near the Coast Guard base is prohibited," Jha said.

While Jha said he had no problem with the second plan, it would entail an additional construction of 1.6 km of the sea-link, which at 1999 prices would cost about Rs 160 crore.

It would also require new clearances from the government as well as the environment committee.
"This scheme is part of the second phase of the project for which clearance is still pending," Jha said.

Meanwhile, the Worli Woods citizens group is planning meetings to press their demands. They intend giving a petition to the chief minister with the signatures of prominent people, including Police Commissioner M N Singh, Director General of Police Subhash Malhotra and former police commissioner Julio Ribeiro.

Project Background

Bandra Worli Sea Link Project has been one of the most highly recommended project of all the transport studies done for the metropolitan region during the last forty years.
At present, Mahim causeway is the only link connecting western suburbs to island city of Mumbai. The existing north south western corridor is highly congested and during the peak hours results in a bottleneck at Mahim Causeway.
Vehicular traffic admeasuring about 1,20,000 PCU travels on the Mahim causeway everyday and during peak hours and it takes about forty minutes to travel from Mahim causeway to Worli, a distance of about 8 km.

Connecting island and suburbs of mumbai

Construction of the project link will provide an additional fast moving outlet from the island city to the western suburbs & thereby providing much needed relief to the congested Mahim Causeway. This link will also form a part of the western freeway.

Project Location

* The project starts from the Interchange at Mahim i.e. intersection of Western Express Highway and Swami Vivekanand road at Bandra and connects to Worli at Worli end with overall length of 5.6 kms for the entire project.

* A cloverleaf interchange at Mahim intersection and a flyover at the Lovegrove intersection have been proposed as part of this project to enhance the faster and safe traffic dispersal.