Bandra-Worli Sea Link Connection: Coastal Road’s Southbound Arm To Open This Month

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that a key section of the Mumbai Coastal Road, which connects with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), is set to be partially opened this month. The tentative date for this significant development is September 15, although the final date is still under consideration.

This partial opening will involve the southbound carriageway of the Coastal Road, which will be used primarily for northbound traffic heading from Marine Drive towards Bandra. The one-directional opening is designed to ease traffic flow along this busy route. The final decision regarding the traffic management plan will be made in consultation with the traffic police and BMC officials.

Recent work on the arch bridge, which is a critical part of this project, was completed last weekend. The asphalting work, particularly the last 180-metre stretch, was finished on Sunday, thanks to a period of dry weather that allowed the work to proceed smoothly. BMC Chief Bhushan Gagrani confirmed that while the southbound arm is expected to be opened this month, work on the second arm may extend until the end of the year.

In addition to the road itself, the project includes the construction of a promenade from Breach Candy to Worli, which will feature a dedicated cycling track. The completion of this promenade is also targeted for the end of the year.

The arch bridge is an engineering marvel, with two spans measuring 136 metres on the right-hand side (RHS) and 144 metres on the left-hand side (LHS), weighing a total of 4,000 metric tonnes. The entire bridge, including additional spans measuring 44 metres, 60 metres, and 46 metres, requires 7,000 metric tonnes of steel.

The steel was provided by Jindal Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India. Given the coastal environment, the bridge is being coated with a five-level paint system to protect it from corrosion.