Bandra Worli Sea Link Project, a marvel of architecture and engineering,
is one of the most highly recommended projects of all the transport studies done for the metropolitan region during the last forty years. The sea link consists of approach viaducts and two aesthetically pleasing cable-stayed bridges. The link, which is 5.86 km long, 8-lane freeway connecting Worli and Bandra, will serve the purpose of providing an additional fast moving outlet from the South Mumbai to the Western Suburbs and thereby providing much needed relief to the congested Mahim Causeway. Widely noticed by the media , it is an architectural marvel
1. Major Components of the Sea-Link:
a) 449 m long embankment with 20 m wide promenades for 16-lane toll plaza.
b) 800 m long precast segmental approach bridge on Bandra side.
c) 600 m long cable stayed bridge 125 m high towers including transition spans.
d) 200 m long precast segmental approach bridge between Bandra cable stayed bridge and Worli cable stayed bridge.
e) 350 m long Cable Stayed Bridge on the Worli with Pylons including transition spans
f) 1400 m Precast Segmental Approach Bridge on Worli Side.
g) 811 m long link to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road comprising 510 m Precast Segmental Bridge and 310m Cast-in-Situ Bridge.
h) Setting up Traffic Monitoring, Surveillance, Information and Control Systems.
i) Drainage, Street Lighting, Signage Making, Landscaping and Arboriculture.
2. Major Steps Involved in Bridge Erection
a) Soil Investigation and Load Test on Piles
b) Foundation Construction
c) Sub Structure Construction
d) Super Structure Construction
d) Cable Stayed Bridges
3. Salient features:
a) An 8-lane bridge with 2 lanes dedicated for buses.
b) Unique bridge design for the Link Bridge to emerge as a landmark structure in the city.
c) Single tower supported 500 meters long Cable Stayed Bridge at Bandra Channel and Twin tower supported 350m Cable Stayed Bridge at Worli Channel for each carriageway.
d) Modern toll plaza of 16 lanes with automated toll collection system.
e) State-of-art systems for traffic monitoring, surveillance, information and guidance, instrumentation, emergency support etc.
4. Project benefits:
a) Savings in vehicle operating cost to the tune of INR 1000 million per annum due to reduction in congestion in the existing roads and lower vehicle operating cost on the bridge.
b) Considerable savings in travel time due to reduced accidents, increased speed and reduced delays at intersections at existing roads.
c) Improvement in environment especially in terms of reduction in carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and reduction in noise pollution in areas of Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Worli.
d) No adverse effect on fisheries, marine life and livelihood of fisherman.
e) Proper landscaping measures along the approaches and promenade along waterfront to enhance environment of the area.
f) Ease in driving with reduced mental tension and overall improvement in the quality of life.
5. Mumbaikars’ View:
One design feature: the massive steel rails on either side, completely block out the sea scenario. A sweeping, uplifting view of the sea was what thousands of Mumbaikars were counting on. The crash barriers-which designers say are essential for safety-have effectively crashed these hopes.
The superintending engineer of the MSRDC, Vivek Ghanekar, explains that the railings are scientifically designed. The metal, bars and shape of the barriers are built in such a way that in case of an accident, it is the barriers that will bend, minimising damage to the car's body. But, counter scores of people who have traveled abroad, cable-stayed bridges built in Europe and America are equally safe and offer spectacular views of water.
Bombay city is blessed with not one but two long coastlines on either side but the city dwellers hardly see the sea except for little stretches at Marine Drive, Haji Ali and Juhu. For an overcrowded city like Mumbai, the sea is a liberating feature and should not be cut off, many feel.
6. Future Extension:
The Reliance Infrastructure, in consortium with Hyundai Engineering of Korea, has emerged as the preferred bidder for the Western Freeway project -- an extension of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai. Once the project is awarded, the company will take over the 6 km Bandra-Worli Sea Link and construct a further 5.5-km long extension over sea between Worli and Haji Ali--estimated to be completed in four years. The cost is of the project is pegged at INR 5,1000 million.
Ref: Haldania R., “ Cable stayed bridges” Project Report, Departement of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, India
