Technological Developments in Mumbai - part 2

SEALINK PROJECT TO COST MORE THAN RS 800 CRORE

Worli-Haji Ali section next on the anvil

Ashley D’mello | TNN

Mumbai: The state government is going ahead with building the Worli-Haji Ali section of the sealink and will be floating tenders for the 3.5-km bridge shortly. The section is expected to cost more than Rs 800 crore.
The western sealink, in its entirety, is supposed to stretch from Versova to Nariman Point. The Bandra-Worli section is under construction and the Worli- Nariman Point section was supposed to be built then. But there
were problems as not enough bidders were willing to come forward to build the huge Rs 4,200 crore section. It has now been cut down to two sections, from Worli to Haji Ali and another from Haji Ali to Nariman Point.
Government circles are now debating whether to take a route under Malabar Hill from Haji Ali and carry the vehicular traffic onto Marine Drive to Nariman Point or to go under the sea-hugging coast to Nariman Point.
Civic groups like Bombay First have pointed out that if the sealink is built as a bridge it would destroy the natural beauty of Marine Drive, which is one of the world’s best promenades and could be developed into a tourist hub.
PWD minister Anil Deshmukh said the issue of an underground tunnel under Malabar Hill or a road under the seacoast to Nariman Point would be decided after discussions with consultants.
The minister said speculation on what would happen has led to the feeling that the project would be further delayed. “This is not true, we will begin the Worli-Haji Ali section and will decide on the Haji Ali-Nariman Point section after discussions with our consultants,’’ he said.
The Versova-Bandra section of the sealink is also being planned. A survey has been conducted and feasibility studies are to take place shortly.
ashley.dmello@timesgroup.com