Mumbai sea bridge ready at last: Images and Videos

It is the first bridge to be built over the sea in India and it promises to change the skyline of its financial capital, the western city of Mumbai.

In India’s financial hub Mumbai, a bridge has been built over the sea to ease chronic traffic congestion in one of the worlds’ most crowded cities. Updating inadequate infrastructure in Indian cities has become critical as its economy expands.

After a brief inauguration ceremony, ruling Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi drove on the eight-lane bridge that extends over the Arabian Sea across Mahim Bay.

The 5.6-kilometer bridge is the first to be built over the sea in India, and links the western suburb of Bandra with Worli in south Mumbai. It will cut travel time along this route from nearly 45 minutes to about eight minutes. A one-way trip in a car will cost about $1.

The bridge is expected to ease Mumbai’s unending traffic snarls. But it will only make a partial difference in a city where an overburdened transport network makes commuting a nightmare.

Bidisha Ganguly at the Confederation of Indian Industry calls Mumbai’s sea bridge a “landmark project” where infrastructure is concerned. “A great beginning has been made with this sea link, and there are opportunities for many more of such projects. Public transport is a major concern, and now with the congestion on the roads, its time to look for alternatives,” Ganguly said.

The government says new flyovers, an underground railway, and an expansion of the sea bridge have been planned to cater to the city of 18 million people, and 1.5 million vehicles.

But experts are calling for faster implementation of these projects. In the past, many infrastructure projects have been delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of funding or litigation over land. For example, the construction of the sea bridge took nearly a decade as protests and litigation from the fishing community held up work until 2004.

The protests were triggered by concerns over the bridge’s impact on the sea bed and its implication for the livelihood of fishermen.

It is not just in Mumbai where the transport infrastructure needs to be overhauled. In nearly all Indian cities, roads and mass transit systems have become inadequate as an expanding economy attracts millions of people from rural areas to cities, and the middle class snaps up more cars.

The government acknowledges that infrastructure needs investment of billions of dollars, and has commissioned several projects to build new highways, airports and rail networks. Experts say infrastructure is a key factor in holding back the economy from its full potential.

After ten years of construction through controversial phases and delays, Mumbai’s residents breathed a huge sigh of relief with the opening of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) on Tuesday.

India’s first bridge across the sea and the longest cable-stayed project in the country will help motorists from the western suburbs zip through the 5.7-kilometre BWSL in less than 10 minutes to get to Worli, from where office-goers head to the business district in south Mumbai.

The eight-lane link will be the first of Mumbai’s other bridges to come up in future along the sea – Worli to Haji Ali, Haji Ali to Nariman Point in the south and Bandra to Versova in the north.

As of now, only one carriageway of four lanes will be thrown open to the public since the other is still under construction.

Vimaltai Mundada, Minister of Public Works Department, described the technology of the Rs16.34 billion (Dh1.25 billion) bridge as “unique” in the country and “a testimony to the Maharashtra government’s determination to build state-of-the-art infrastructure in Mumbai”.

This project by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has been designed by Dar Consultants, UK, and built by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC).

Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman and Managing Director, HCC, remarked at a press conference on Monday how constructing a bridge across the sea was one of the major challenges for his company.

“Reflecting on the hard work of our engineers and over 3,000 workers who have raised the sea link in rough open sea conditions, I am proud to say we have truly built a monument to human skills, enterprise and determination.”

The highlight of the BWSL are the two aesthetically-designed cable-stayed bridges of 500 and 150-metre spans with the highest tower soaring to 126 metres, equivalent to the height of a 43-storied building whilst its weight is equivalent to 50,000 African elephants.

Mumbai’s newest landmark after the Gateway offers a great view from the Bandra side. The Mahim bay, the skyline of central Mumbai and the illuminated bridge are expected to attract even more strollers in the evenings.

Landscaping along the approaches and waterfront promenade is expected to enhance the surroundings.

On the security front, cameras will be fitted on the underbelly of the bridge to keep a watch on the movement of boats and ships.

The toll charges to use the bridge is Rs50 for cars, Rs75 for mini buses and mini trucks and Rs100 for buses and trucks.