Mumbai: Versova locals face fresh traffic hell as Rs 18,120 cr sea link work begins

Sections of Juhu-Versova Link Road are barricaded for the construction. Pic/Satej Shinde

Residents of Versova and Four Bungalows in Andheri West, already dealing with dug-up roads, must brace themselves for even worse traffic congestion as work on the Bandra-Versova Sea Link (BVSL) has commenced on Juhu-Versova Link Road.

A Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) official said, "The geotechnical work for the construction of the connector starting from the Juhu-Versova Link Road towards the Versova-end of the sea link has begun, and barricades have been placed on the road. We will see to it that the work is carried out in such a manner that there is minimum inconvenience to motorists using Juhu-Versova Link Road."

On Monday, when this correspondent travelled on the stretch, barricades had been placed along the median of the road. When the actual construction work begins, there is a high chance that traffic jam will take place on this stretch. Residents have been complaining about traffic due to ongoing concreting work at Seven Bungalows, Four Bungalows areas and Juhu-Versova Link Road.

Project progress

An official attached to the BVSL project told this newspaper that around 25 per cent of civil work on the project was complete and the speed of the work would increase as Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) had recently granted certain permissions related to the project.

According to the minutes of the last MCZMA meeting that took place in December 2024, the MSRDC proposed a few amendments, including bifurcating and extending the Versova connector using a cable-stayed bridge for better traffic disbursal (to minimise impacts on mangroves and reduce traffic congestion at earlier proposed connector end), relocating two navigational spans on the main alignment and adding two new 12O-metre navigational spans on the Juhu connector, and extending the Juhu connector towards the Western Express Highway for better traffic disbursal.

Facts and figures

The BVSL project cost has increased from R11,332 crore, an amount sanctioned in 2018, to Rs 18,120 crore. The increase is attributed to the shifting of a casting yard from Juhu to Malad as well as beautification and lighting.

Once completed, the BVSL will save the 45 to 60 minutes it currently takes to travel between Bandra and Versova. According to MSRDC officials, the project will also have indirect pluses such as a reduction in the maintenance cost of vehicles along with environmental benefits, an increase in land appreciation and an increase in job opportunities and mental tranquillity for drivers.

The BVSL comprises a 2.25-km (2+2 lane) connector at Bandra, a 2.57-km (3+3 lane) connector at Carter Road, a 4.5-km ( 2+2 lane) connector at Juhu and 4.29-km connector at Versova along with a cable-stayed bridge.