Bandra-Worli Sea Link: Govt warns Reliance

The state government warned the Reliance-Hyundai consortium to start the construction work on the Worli-Haji Ali Sea Link at the earliest.

The state government has promised to take responsibility for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and assured that the coastal road parallel to the sea link will not be built.

Chief Secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) have been holding a series of meetings with officials from Reliance-Hyundai in the last few days.

The government had expressed its concerned over the enormous delay in the commencement of the project. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had also warned the company about the delay in their meeting in August.

The consortium had sought the VGF guarantee from the state government and not from MSRDC, while it also had asked for an assurance from the government of not building the coastal road parallel to the sea link.

Gaikwad said, “We have told the MSRDC to assure the consortium with the VGF. The high power committee on coastal routes is expected to submit its report soon, but we will not construct any coastal route alongside the sea link,” he said.

An official from Reliance Infra said, “Since the government has assured us on VGF and our concern over the coastal road, the work will soon be started.”

The government stated that they will provide alternate arrangement for the casting yard for the project.