The bridge will connect with the existing Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) from the Bandra end to the Nana-Nani Park at Seven Bungalows, Andheri.
Versova-Bandra Sea Link has been chosen over Coastal Road. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has floated bids to get international construction firms to do the job so that it can award the bid early next year.
On Monday, the road corporation through Request For Qualification (RFQ) declared that it wanted to go ahead with the 10-km long sea link plan. It wants to construct the Rs7,500 crore worth bridge through cash contract of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) financial model instead of Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The MSRDC may levy toll to recover the construction costs for the link. The estimated cost of constructing the sea link has however increased by Rs1,525 crore since 2014, as in early 2014, the estimated cost was only Rs5,975 crore.
"The work order is likely to be issued in the first half of 2017. Thereafter, it should take at least three years for constructing the sea bridge," said an MSRDC official. Although the last submission day for RFQ bids is in mid-September, it is likely to be extended if the bidders place a request. Thereafter, it will take another three months to finalise the construction agency.
The bridge will connect with the existing Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) from the Bandra end to the Nana-Nani Park at Seven Bungalows, Andheri.
The state government has already given nod to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Coastal Road plan instead of the chain of sea links on city's western coast, the most problematic section for implementation is between Bandra and Versova. Residents and environmentalists have been opposing Coastal Road project stating that it will only promote car ownership and eventually result in road congestion.
As per the Coastal Road plans, from Bandra Reclamation, an interchange-cum-reclaimed road will take motorists to St. Andrew's Church/Chimbai Village, and another bridge of 550 metres in length will take motorists upto Otters Club at Carter Road.
Along the Carter Road, the Coastal Road is planning on stilts followed by cut-and-cover undersea construction for a tunnel from Khar Danda fishing village right upto Juhu Moragaon. Thereafter, the ramp portion over the mouth of Juhu Nala will take support on the stilts over mangroves at Versova, finally landing outside Nana-Nani Park in Versova.
"There are too many problems on this stretch and mangroves too will be affected in the construction work of the project. If Mumbai needs to be given improved commuting experience in a lesser time, then Versova-Bandra Sea Link is the only alternative," said a state official.
Moreover, the Rs9,000 crore Coastal Road project is likely to also affect Juhu Beach in some form during and post the construction stage. Planners believe that by having the sea bridge, it will also resolve the stiff opposition that is being voiced by environmentalists, residents, fisher folks and independent transport analysts. Additionally, the bridge will be around 1,200 metres into the Arabian Sea from the coast at Juhu Beach, thereby not affecting any tourism activity.
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