Come November, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to commence works on the construction of a new cable-stayed bridge in the western suburbs linking Goregaon to Oshiwara across the Goregaon creek (Oshiwara). The project is estimated at a cost of Rs 418 crore and is expected to be completed by October 2028.
In a bid to alleviate traffic congestion on the S V Road and Link Road in the western suburbs, the BMC has rolled out plans to establish a new north-south link running parallel across the existing routes.
Slated to be 542 metres long, the proposed bridge will run across Goregaon Creek along the 36.6-metre-wide DP Road and connect the Link Road with two congested areas — Bhagat Singh Nagar in P/South ward (Goregaon) and Oshiwara in K/West ward (Andheri). The proposed bridge will also serve as a new approach road to the Bhagar Singh Nagar block. Once established, the bridge will serve as a new link for commuters travelling between the busy areas of Andheri, Oshiwara, Lokhandwala, and Goregaon.
While the project plan was first mooted in 2022, the construction was stalled owing to a delay in getting permissions from agencies such as the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), as the proposed bridge passes over the protected mangrove area. In May, the High Court finally granted the civic body approval to construct the cable-stayed bridge.
Bridge alignment and design
While the overall length of the bridge is 542 metres, the cable-stayed portion of the structure will encompass 238 metres. According to BMC officers, the cable-stayed design was chosen owing to its environmental advantage as the reduced number of piers required for a cable-stayed structure will impact fewer mangroves. Furthermore, it also prevents obstruction to the natural watercourse and serves as an aesthetic structure in the prime locality.
At an overall width of 28.55 m, the total bridge will comprise six lanes with three carriageways on each side. Besides the main carriageways, the bridge is proposed to comprise a 0.45 metre median as well as a 1.5 m-wide utility corridor along each carriageway.
Cost of the Project
Rs. 418 crore
Timeline of the project
Having issued notices for work in the mangrove area earlier this month, the BMC is eyeing to commence construction work on the bridge in the first week of November.
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The bridge is estimated to be constructed over a period of 36 months, excluding the monsoon months. The expected deadline is October 2028.
Officials Speak
“We are aiming to commence work on the project by the first week of November. The cable-stayed design of the bridge, besides being better for the environment and waterway, will reduce the timeline of the construction period compared to a conventional bridge. Upon commissioning, the bridge will facilitate smoother North-South vehicular movement and will significantly reduce the load on S V Road as well as the Link Road. Eventually, this bridge will also connect the Link Road to the proposed Mumbai Coastal Road (North),” said Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), told The Indian Express.
