Bandra-Worli sea link set to open from May end

City's transport system will get a major boost with Rs 1300 crore Bandra Worli Sea Link is all set to be commissioned by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) by May end.

Brushing aside reports that Mumbai's first sea link would be thrown open for vehicles only next year owing to differences among the project consultants and contractors, MSRDC Vice Chairman Satish Gavai said, "We are confident that the Sea link would be ready by May end. There are no differences among any one involved in the project."

The contractors involved in surfacing the road with a final layer of tar and illumination had allegedly threatened to pull out of the project after they were asked to give longer guarantee periods for their work than what has already been mentioned earlier.

"The tiff between the contractors and consultants grown up. The project consultant Dar consultants has been delaying the project by not giving approval for the remaining work which will only delay the entire project," a source said.

Stating that the project work is in final stage, Gavai added, "surface work on the road, signages and illumination would be done simultaneously."

The sea link will carry about 80,000 vehicles daily and would reduce the traveling time between Worli and Bandra to 10 minutes, instead of present 40 minutes.

The MSRDC officials want it to be opened for public before model code of conduct comes into force in the state for Assembly polls scheduled in mid October, if not by May end.

Work on installing the maintenance lift that will climb to the cable-stayed bridge is also yet to be carried out. As the deadline for commissioning of the project has been set, the contractors have been asked to finish the work as early as possible.

The project work, which was started in 2001 by Hindustan Construction Company, was supposed to be completed by mid-2008, but it suffered many delays either because of petitions over environmental or payment issues to the contractors.

The landmark structure in the city, after the Gateway of India, will have eight lanes of traffic including two lanes reserved for the buses.