MSRDC to Extend Bandra-Versova Sea Link till Virar with Minimal Impact on Marine Ecosystem

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has finished the feasibility study of extending the Bandra-Versova sea link till Virar. The proposal for an eco-friendly yet longer coastal road will soon be submitted to the state government.

Image: The Economic Times

To prevent the harmful impact of construction on coastal environment and human habitation, the MSRDC will extend the upcoming sea link to the Vasai creek and end in Virar. Instead of building it along the coast, the proposed extension will take the sea link one kilometre inside the sea. This will ensure minimal impact on the marine ecosystem including – mangroves, creeks and coastal habitations.

Shankar Dhote, MSRDC chief executive engineer, said,

We have completed the viability study in which we looked at the number of motorists who will use the corridor, toll and interchange points.

A huge construction cost of Rs 21,000 crore has been allotted to the project, with a completion deadline of 2026. The eight-lane 57.8 km link targets to reduce travel time by one and a half hours, during peak hours. Nearly 1.5 lakh vehicles are supposed to use the sea link daily. One way toll charges could range from Rs 800 to Rs 1,500.

The work on Phase-I of the coastal road from Nariman Point to Worli has already commenced, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2022. According to the reports, there will be four interchange points at Borivali, Dahisar, Bhayander and Vasai.

As soon as the coastal road is open to the public, the two sea links – Bandra-Worli and Bandra-Versova, will provide the commuters direct connectivity to South Bombay. The extension will help with direct connectivity between Virar and Nariman Point.

Currently, it takes more than three hours for vehicles to travel between Virar and Nariman Point. Once the sea link becomes operational, it will take only half that time to cover the 65 km distance.

Via: Times of India