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Bandra Worli Sea Link, Mumbai Overview
Bandra Worli Sea Link is one of the magnificent structures in Mumbai which was constructed in order to provide direct road connectivity Bandra and Worli. It is one of the few bridges in India which is supported by cables and viaducts made of concrete-steel. Also referred to as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, this eight-laned bridge was one of the first projects started by Government of Maharashtra on the western side of the city. The bridge spans across the arcing coastline of the city and is indeed an architectural wonder representing the excellence of modern engineering and technology. After the completion of the bridge, the time taken to travel from Bandra to Worli reduced drastically and it was expected that around 37,500 vehicles would ply through this bridge every day.
The bridge has added to the beauty of the surrounding. It overlooks the blue waters of Mahim Bay and the sight is simply mesmerizing. Bandra Worli Sea Link is, of course, a perfect fusion of man-made architecture with natural beauty. The view of the Mumbai city from the bridge is enchanting. Tavel to the bridge to take a few candid shots of yourself and the view around. The beauty of the bridge is exemplified during the night time as it is lit with bright lights and the twinkling lights of the cars passing by is a sight to behold.
More on Bandra Worli Sea Link
History of Bandra Worli Sea Link
Prior to the development of Bandra Worli Sea Link, the only route that connected western Mumbai with the central business district was the Mahim Causeway. Consequently, the south-western corridor connecting to the northern areas got extremely crowded during the peak office hours. In order to overcome this problem of congestion, the government of Maharashtra came up with the Western Freeway Project under which the idea of building Bandra Worli Sea Link was proposed.
The foundation of this massive architecture was laid down by Bal Thackrey in 1999 and the project was expected to cost around ₹6.6 billion, with a completion time of 5 years. Very soon, the project was infested with various legal issues and public litigations. As a result, there was a five-year delay in completion of this project and the cost rose up to ₹16 Billion. The bridge was finally completed in 2009.
Architecture of Bandra Worli Sea Link
The project of building Bandra Worli Sea Link was initiated by the State Government of Maharashtra and was carried out under the supervision of Hindustan Construction Company. The construction of this splendid architecture involved engineers from different parts of the world such as Canada, Philippines, Egypt, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Indonesia, China, Serbia, Britain, Singapore, Thailand, and of course India. This Sea Link is the first project initiated in India that involved the construction of bridge supported by cables that too over the open sea.
The bridge was open to public for usage in June 2009. Since the bridge is constructed on a seabed, the pylon pillars in the bridge have a sophisticated and well-designed geometry, while the main stretch of the bridge is the longest concrete deck in India. The towers used in the bridge measures 128 meters which decrease in height as one moves away. The Bandra Worli Sea Link is one of the first projects in Mumbai which includes seismic arresters. Therefore, the bridge is can tolerate a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
Earlier, it took around one hour to travel from western suburbs to central Mumbai, however, after the construction of this bridge, the travel time has reduced to 7-10 minutes. It was inaugurated by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, who was the then UPA chairperson. This Sea Link has indeed played an important role in making Mumbai the world-class city. In later years, it was also proposed to link the western suburbs with Nariman Point which is the centre for all the business activities. A visit to this Sea Link is a must to glorify the achievements made by mankind.
When to Visit Bandra Worli Sea Link
The ideal time to travel across Bandra Worli Sea Link is during the day time. You can easily drive at this time because there is less traffic and the view of the sea from the top is simply enthralling.
Tips For Visiting Bandra Worli Sea Link
- You should adhere to the speed limit while travelling through the bridge.
- Best time to click pictures on the bridge is during the night time when the structure is lit with beautiful lights.
How to get to Bandra Worli Sea Link?
It is obvious that the Sea Link can be reached from Bandra or Worli. If travelling from Bandra, Bandra bus depot is the nearest bus station situated at a distance of about 2 km.
For those travelling by train can get down at Bandra Railway Station which is around 5 km from the bridge. Additionally, you can hire a taxi or an autorickshaw to reach the place.
