CM approves Bandra-Versova sealink, Mumbai-Pune expressway bypass & new Thane creek bridge
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by the CM on Wednesday
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday approved the construction of three big-ticket infrastructure projects including Bandra-Versova sea link, augmentation of Mumbai-Pune Expressway and a third bridge on Thane creek at Vashi on Sion-Panvel highway.
The CM, charing a meeting of his cabinet’s infrastructure projects committee, directed them to undertake the construction work within a month.
According to a release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Bandra-Versova sea link will be thrice the length of the present Bandra-Worli sea link.
A route from Bandra Bus Terminus connecting the sea link at Versova Nana Nani Park from the Western Express Highway (Parle Junction) will also be developed, the release said.
The near Rs 7,000 crore project will be developed by a consortium of Reliance Infrastructure and Italy’s Astaldi in five years.
Construction of third bridge on the Thane creek at Vashi was also approved. The additional six-lane bridge will be built by L&T at a cost of Rs 560 crore and help reduce traffic congestion on the stretch.
The work includes extension and modernisation of the toll booth at Vashi and smoothing of the traffic movement. The relief, however, will come at a cost as motorists will have to continue paying toll till 2036.
Further, construction of a new lane (missing link) in the ghat section between Khopoli and Khandala will be constructed.
Construction of two-stage tunnel commencing from Khalapur toll booth terminating at Kusgaon (Sinhagad Institute) along with the connecting bridge will be undertaken as part of the project.
Total length of the two tunnels in the project is 11 kms and the length of the connecting bridge is two kms.
Navayuga Engineering will build the 11 km tunnels at a cost of Rs 2,670 crore and AFCONS Infrastructure will build the 2 km-long cable-stay viaducts for Rs 1,492 crore.
“The 650 meters cable-stayed bridge, which is the longest in the country, will be a tourist attraction. This link will reduce the distance between Pune and Mumbai and will also help in saving the journey time period,” the release stated.
Meanwhile, toll collection on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will be extended till 2045 to recover costs.
