'Bow-String' Arch Bridge to Offer Signal Free Rides from Marine Drive to Bandra From Today

Mumbai: In a major relief to Mumbaikars, the ‘bow-string’ arch bridge linking the Mumbai Coastal Road with the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL), is all set for its partial inauguration on Thursday, September 12. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one arm of the bridge will be opened for traffic, providing signal-free rides from Marine Drive to Bandra. This new project promises to be a game changer as it will increase the length of the Coastal Road which currently expands only as far as Worli.

The south-bound carriageway of the bridge that will be opened will allow traffic only in one direction — mostly northbound traffic from Marine Drive towards Bandra. After the highly-anticipated opening, vehicles will move directly onto the Bandra Worli Sea Link with having to undertake the cumbersome detour at the Worli interchange.

The Coastal Road, estimated to cost about Rs 14,000 crore, will provide a direct connection with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, cutting down travel time between south Mumbai and suburbs and hence improve commuters' overall experience. 

No grand opening ceremony has been planned for the road project but the good news is that the north-bound vehicles will have direct access to Mumbai‘s Sea Link from the Coastal Road. Meanwhile, those traveling south towards Nariman Point will still need to use the current entry points at Worli and Haji Ali.

Its southbound arm opened from Worli to Marine Drive on March 11.

The northbound carriageway was opened from Marine Drive only till Haji Ali on June 10 followed by the stretch from Haji Ali to Worli on July 11.

Work Expected to be Over by Year-End

The construction of the ambitious 10.58-km-long project started in October 2018. The remaining work on the bridge is expected to be completed by year-end. The monumental girder linking the southbound lanes of the Sea Link directly to the Coastal Road will remains to be completed. once completed, it will herald a new era of seamless connectivity.

24/7 Access for Ganeshotsav

In view of Ganeshotsav, the Coastal Road will be accessible for the traffic around the clock. Until September 17, the road will witness non-stop traffic, accommodating the festive fervour.

The Coastal Road will resume its usual operations post-September 1. Therafter, traffic will be again regulated from 7 am to 11 pm, maintaining the high-speed efficiency of this vital corridor.

The BMC had initially set a date in July for the partial opening of the bridge to vehicular traffic but it got delayed due to intense rainfall and high tidal waves. Despite these setbacks, officials highlighted that intermittent dry periods in July helped accelerate the progress of the construction.

Coastal Road project: An Infrastructure Marvel

The arch bridges, each weighing an about 4,000 metric tonnes and spanning across 140 meters, are gearing up to become iconic landmarks of the Mumbai Coastal Road project. With these engineering marvels in place, Mumbai’s commuters are going to experience seamless connectivity between to key hotspots. The bridge is further help in decongesting the city roads and reduce the burden on the local trains.