Mumbai: Second girder for Coastal Road-Sea Link connector installed by BMC

Second girder connecting Mumbai Coastal Road & Bandra Worli Sea Link/ Shadab Khan

The Mumbai Coastal Road Project reached another key milestone with the successful installation of the second enormous Bow Arch String Girder at 6:07 am on May 15, 2024. This follows the earlier construction of the first girder on April 26, 2024. The second girder was carefully installed while taking into account tidal conditions in the sea, linking the Mumbai Coastal Road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link route on both sides.

Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Municipal Commissioner for Eastern Suburbs Amit Saini oversaw the operation. Other notable participants included Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City), and other senior officials and engineers.

The effective installation of the first girder had already increased confidence among the project team members. Due to limited space, assembling the second girder began at 3 a.m. and was a painstaking operation. Despite the hurdles, the 2,500-metric-ton girder was successfully placed by 6:07 am, with mating cones precisely aligned.

The installation created a sense of caution and intrigue, especially given the restricted space provided. Despite this, officials, engineers, and workers carried out the mission carefully and efficiently. The girders will be concreted in the next phase, using Japanese technology to prevent corrosion.

The second girder, 31.7 metres wide and 143 metres long, was carried from Ambala, Haryana, with numerous prefabricated parts. Its installation is a significant step towards connecting Mumbai Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

"The Mumbai Coastal Road Project achieved another milestone today by successfully setting up the second giant Bow Arch String Girder at 6:07 a.m. today 15th May 2024. This follows the earlier setup of the first giant Bow Arch String Girder on 26th April 2024. The second girder setup was completed by keeping an eye on tidal conditions in the sea. With this girder setup, the Mumbai Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link route are now connected on both sides. The work was carried out under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner & Administrator Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr Amit Saini," BMC said in their press statement.

"The second girder is relatively larger in weight, length, and width than the first one. The second girder measures 31.7 meters in width, and 31 metres in height, and spans a length of 143 meters. Weighing 2,500 metric tons, various pre-fabricated parts of this girder were manufactured at Ambala, Haryana. On Sunday morning,12th May 2024, a barge departed from the Mazagaon Dock, carrying the second girder for set up," it further stated.

The BMC further stated that, "While setting up the first girder connecting the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to the Mumbai Coastal Road project, engineers had the flexibility and ample space needed for a smooth setup process. However, setting up the second girder posed a significant challenge due to limited space. Positioning the second girder just 2.8 metres away from the first one was a complex task. Despite the risks, officers, engineers, staff, and workers executed the mission carefully and efficiently. The two girders, crucial for connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, will undergo cement concretisation in the next phase. Japanese technology, particularly the C-5 system, has been utilised to prevent rusting."