Information Madness

Everyone knows about the heavy traffic congestions of Mumbai. If you consider the western suburbs and Mumbai, the only link is Mahim Causeway. So to solve this issue, Maharashtra State Roadways Development Corporation decided to create another link called Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). So after 10 years of work, the 8-lane, cable-stayed bridge will be inaugrated on June 30 2009.

The Sea Link will enable speedy travel between Bandra and Worli, cutting travel times from 60–75 minutes to 7 minutes. The chief attraction of the magnificent structure would be the two cable stayed bridges, one 500 metres (northern side) and another 350 metres (southern side), for the passage of fishing boats.

The bridge rests on two towers each 126 metres tall or equivalent to a 43-storeyed building. MSRDC has plans to provide a viewers gallery at the top of the towers which would offer a bird's eye glimpse of the entire city.

There is a modern, automated, 16-lane toll plaza at the southern end, and the bridge has been equipped with sophisticated security and monitoring systems.

Bandra Worli Sea Link will cost Rs. 1650 Crores out of which Rs 9 crore was spent to illuminate the bridge. The bridge is made with about 38000 KM long steel ropes, 575,500 tonnes of Concrete & 6000 workers. Vehicles will be paying the toll for about Rs. 40 to Rs. 50. Bandra Worli Sea Link will save about an hour of travel and will save 7 km distance for 100 crores vehicles. This bridge will be used by an estimate of 125,000 vehicles on a daily basis.

If you are planning to visit Mumbai after the inaugration, you might want to check out the open Deck Bus tour of the Bandra Worli Sea link. Looks like the government is planning to start an open deck bus tour of the bridge for the citizens. The ferry would start from one of the business hub's in the city-Bandra-Kurla Complex to Worli Sea Face and can accommodate nearly 38 to 40 passengers and would cost them Rs 15-20