Versova-Bandra Sea Link Project by Reliance Infrastructure: Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know

A colossal country stands to be akin to a hustling cruise ship. The direction may be undecided, the gushing smoke, the lives of many, centralised in the hands of few. India being the agricultural hub is pacing fast to urbanize in a way that would put most of the developing countries to shame. And then, there are the men behind the mission who have been spearheading the endeavour in a fashion like there’s no tomorrow working day and night towards the development of the infrastructure of the country. One of such men is Anil Ambani. Recently, his company Reliance Infrastructure of Reliance Group conglomerate bagged in the Versova-Bandra sea link project.  It is a Rs. 7000 crore marquee project of R-Infra which was bagged from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

The Particulars:

• The VBSL is a marquee project with the Sea Link having a length of 17.17 km, which is three times the length of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link of 5.6 km.
• The Sea Link will cut down the commute time of the travellers from 90 minutes drastically to 10 minutes.
• To be developed at an estimated Rs 7,000-crore budget, the project is estimated to be delivered in 60 months from the appointed date of June 24, according to its exchange filing.
• The Versova-Bandra Sea Link was planned with a need to develop a peripheral road that could help ease traffic from north to south and from east to west of the city.
• As per the salient features of the Versova-Bandra Sea Link project, the length of the main sea link would be 9.6 km with 4+4 lane.
• The Bandra Connector would be 2+2 Lane, Carter Road would be 3+3 Lane and Juhu Koliwada would be 2+2 Lane and Nana Nani Park would be 3+3 Lane.
• These connectors, according to the MSRDC, will help ensure fewer jams at the points where vehicles enter and exit the corridor. 
• The MSRDC was appointed as the nodal agency for the project by Maharashtra government on 19 December 2009.
• For the project, Reliance Infrastructure has completed the works related to soil investigation in partnership with Fugro Ltd, and engineering design in partnership with Dar Al Handasah.
• The corridor would also serve as an extension to the existing Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
• The company asserted that their partner in the project, Astaldi S.p.A, is the world's third largest player in bridge construction. 
• This is the second leg of a 20-kilometre coastal road from Malabar Hill in south to Versova in the north.

As per Punit Garg, Executive Director and CEO of Reliance Infrastructure, “This project will further propel Reliance Infrastructure as a premier Engineering and Constrcution company in India. Our partnership with Astaldi S.P.A, the third biggest construction player in the world in bridges, will help us create a truly world class mega infrastructure project for Mumbai.” He further added that will be able to save drastically in their fuel expenditure as well as enjoy "eco-friendly travel with minimal carbon footprint".

Furthermore, the sea link comprises the northern part of the Mumbai coastal road from Bandra to Versova. Also the commuters travelling to the south of Mumbai from the western suburbs could avoid the Western Express Highway once the new route becomes operational.