Bandra-Worli sea link likely by April 2008

MUMBAI: The Bandra-Worli sea link, connecting Mahim and Worli, is likely to be completed by April 2008, Maharashtra Public Works Department Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Saturday.
    
After inspecting the progress of construction of the eight-kilometre project, Deshmukh, who is also chairman of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, said, "The eight-lane project will be completed by April 2008, and this is the first of its kind sea link in the country.
    
Deshmukh admitted that there had been inordinate delays in the completion of the project after protests from fishermen over the sea link's original meeting point at Worli jetty.
  
"The design and alignment had to be changed and due to that the cost went up from Rs 660 crore to Rs 1,100 crore," the minister said.
    
Work on the second phase of the sea link, between Worli to Nariman Point, will start next year, he said, adding that 18 tenders had been received for the project and scrutiny was on.

 

"We hope to start this by April next year and it will take four years and an estimated Rs 3,000 crore to complete it."
    
Work on the ambitious Sewri-Nhava sea link, which will be 22 km long, will commence next year, he said, adding that three companies had been shortlisted and offers would be invited.
    
"We have learnt lessons from the Bandra-Worli sea link and we will apply them to the other projects. We have faced a lot of difficulties during this time as building a bridge in the sea is not easy, but we have managed as best as we can," he added.