Mumbai gets a new landmark

Bandra-Worli Sea Link: An engineering marvel

Mumbai will get a new landmark with the completion of the work on the 5.8 km long Bandra-Worli Sea Link project. The project is a 8-lane, cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete viaduct approaches, which will link Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli and central Mumbai. The Rs 1306 crore project of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is being executed by Hindustan Construction Company and is likely to be completed by January 2009. The Maharashtra government has announced the extension of the sea link by another 3.6 km up to Haji Ali at an additional cost of Rs 1,200 crore

Bandra-Worli Sea Link Project has the potential to bring about permanent and far-reaching changes in the travel patterns of the area. The link will provide a fast moving outlet from South Mumbai to the suburbs in the west. This link will also help in reducing the present congestion on the Mahim Causeway (which is the only link available at present between western suburbs and south Mumbai) and Western Express Highway.

The sealink is the first phase of the Western FreeWay Sealink proposed to be built to improve the connectivity between the island city of Mumbai and its western suburbs. This link will be followed by a link from Worli to Nariman Point with dispersal to Cuffe Parade. The Sealink will also be supported by a series of flyovers, rail link, roadways and other public facilities.

The project envisages construction of 8 lane Sea link freeway from the interchange of Mahim intersection at the Bandra end to Worli Sea face on Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road. The Construction of the sea link project is divided into four packages namely Package I,Package II, Package III and Package IV. The Package IV executed by HCC forms the main and the most technically challenging construction package of this project.

Bandra-Worli Sea Link project has 9 approach bridge modules and two cable stayed bridges. Each approach bridge module comprises two independent carriageways. The deck of the carriageways consists of triple cell precast box girders supported on piers founded on independent substructure. The cable stayed main bridge has two similar precast triple cell boxes.

The Bandra Worli Sealink is the first of its kind in a number of ways. A number of unique equipment are being used in this project. The unique distinguishing feature of this project is deployment of Asian Hercules, one of the biggest floating sheerleg cranes in the world, for shifting of 1200 MT Launching Girders in sea and specially manufactured equipment for erection of cable stay bridge segments.

The eight-lane flyover will have capacity of carrying about 1.40 lakh cars per day. Large multi-axel vehicles and two-wheelers would not be allowed on the sea link. Speed limit would have to be maintained at 100 km/hr. As the project is being implemented on BOT basis, there would be a minimum toll of Rs 30 per vehicle.

Length of the steel wires used is equal to the circumference of the earth.Weight of the Sealink Bridge is equivalent to the weight of 50,000 African elephantsHeight of the cable-stay towers equals that of a 43 storied building and the length of the Sealink Bridge is 63 times the height of the Qutub Minar

The Bandra Worly sea link project has certain unique features. These include:--An 8-lane bridge with 2 lanes dedicated for buses.--Unique bridge design for the Link Bridge to emerge as a land mark structure in the city.--Single tower supported 500 metre long cable-stayed bridge at Bandra Channel and twin tower supported 350 m cable-stayed bridge at Worli Channel for each carriageway.--Modern toll plaza of 16 lanes with automated toll collection system.--An intelligent bridge with state-of-art systems for traffic monitoring, surveillance, information and guidance, instrumentation, emergency support, etc.--Development of promenade and landscaping to enhance the environment.

Several benefits will accrue from the project. They include:--Estimated savings in Vehicle Operating Costs (VOC): Rs. 100 Crores per annum.--Considerable savings in travel time (20 to 30 minutes) due to increased speed and reduced delays (23 signals avoided)--Stress-free driving.--Reduced accidents.--Reduction in traffic on existing roads because of traffic diversion to the Sea Link. --Reduction in Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxide Levels in Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Worli along existing roads.--Reduced noise pollution in Mahim, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Worli along existing roads.--No adverse effect on fisheries, marine life and livelihood of fisherman.--Landscaping along the approaches and waterfront promenade will enhance the environment and add green spots to the city.

HCC has been executing some of the most exciting and challenging projectsin Indian history. The major engineering landmarks include the world’s longest barrage at Farakka in West Bengal, India’s first underground metro at Kolkata and the second one in New Delhi, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway–India’s first six-lane expressway-the unique double curvature arch dam at Idukki in Kerala and one of Asia’s largest breakwaters at Ennore Port in Tamil Nadu. One ambitious project under way is the Nimoo Bazgo Hydroelectric Project in Leh Ladakh at an altitude of 11,000 feet in Jammu and Kashmir. Source: India Syndicate Image courtesy: Hindustan Construction Company Ltd