Versova to Virar: State wants to sea you off

Government mulls a connector between west Mumbai and the faroff suburb, orders study to check if project is technically, economically feasible

WORLI

BANDRA

CARTER RD CONNECTOR 1

Bandra Fort

Length: 1.17km

Lanes: 2+2

It will connect Bandstand road in Bandra with VBSL. This will enable motorists to enter and exit the sea link from Bandstand road too. Earlier, motorists had to come to the Bandra-arm of the BWSL to proceed

to Sobo MUMBAI : In an ambitious move, the state government is exploring the feasibility of building a sea link between Versova in western Mumbai and Virar, a far-flung suburb around 30km from Borivli.

The state has directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to JUHU KOLIWADA NANA NANI PARK, VERSOVA CONNECTOR 2 Juhu-koliwada to Western Express

Highway

It will take off from Juhu-koliwada and connect the WEH via the Milan flyover (Milan

subway) come up with a detailed study on the feasibility of the 42-km sea link.

“Now that we have awarded the contract for the Versovabandra sea link, the state cabinet has directed us to go conduct a feasibility study for the extension up to Virar. Louis Berger Group has been asked to look at the techno-economic feasibility. The report is likely to come by the year-end,” said Radheshyam

MADH CONNECTOR 3 Nana Nani Park in Versova to Western Express Highway

It will connect the park with WEH near Bisleri factory in Andheri (East) via CD Barfiwala

Road Mopalwar, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRDC.

Transport experts, however, have questioned the idea, terming it a “waste” of public funds. “The government should look at improving public transport in and around Mumbai, and introduce new modes of public transport, instead of wasting money like this,” said AV Shenoy, a transport expert.

He suggested extending Metro

KANDIVLI

GORAI

Project cost:

Deadline: To be operational by

Contractor: Reliance Infrastructure - Astaldi JV corridors up to Virar, so “common man” can travel comfortably.

“The Bandra-worli sea link is a classic example of how the users are not what the government had predicted in their studies. Only cars travel on the sea link, not common man,” he said. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already proposed a coastal road up to Kandivli.

BHAYANDER

Even as experts feel the proposed sea link duplicates the coastal road plan to decongest roads in suburban Mumbai, Mopalwar said MSRDC would consult the BMC during the planning.

Senior MSRDC officials said it is difficult to quote the estimated cost of the proposed sea link. “Once the feasibility report is submitted and a detailed report is ready, only then we can arrive

VASAI at a definite cost. However, as of today, considering the length and number of interchanges, it is expected to cost between ₹20,000 crore to ₹25,000 crore,” the official said, requesting anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

VIRAR

The concept plan of the sea link proposes interchanges at Madh Island, Kandivli, Gorai, Bhayander, Vasai and Virar. Mopalwar said the mammoth project, once approved by the government, could be taken up in phases.

The sea link, if it materialises, would be parallel to the existing Mumbai-ahmedabad highway up to Virar and bring down the travel time considerably.