There was a time when the Mahim Causeway was the only road that connected Mumbai’s Bandra to its western suburbs and the central region. The rush of commuters and the lack of an alternative route led to terrible congestion on the Causeway.
Then came the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which not only made commuting more convenient but also turned out to be one of India’s biggest achievements in engineering. So, folks, let’s delve deeper into the story of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
It all began in 1999 for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Lasting approximately nine years, the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link began in 2000, after its foundation stone was laid in 1999. This cable-stayed bridge was the first of its kind in India at the time, with cables connecting its different segments that are attached to the central towers.
Furthermore, the construction of this bridge included a multitude of challenges. For instance, the underwater surface was not consistent, varying a great deal from broken sand to extremely sturdy rocks.
Despite these obstacles, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which was also India’s very first 8-lane freeway, has been constructed in such a way that it can withstand up to 7.0 intensity earthquakes. The technique used in building this bridge is the same as used in the construction of Burj Khalifa.
And guess what? The weight of this robust bridge in Mumbai is equal to that of up to 50,000 African Elephants. Naturally, the bridge cost way more than the initial estimated cost of $93 million, reaching up to $220 million.
Reducing the Worli-Bandra trip to just 10 minutes
When it was opened to the public in 2009, Bandra-Worli Sea Link reduced the Worli-Bandra journey to just 10 minutes, from the earlier 60-90 minutes. Today, an average of 37,000 vehicles commute on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link every day, each enjoying the convenience and safety this engineering marvel in Mumbai provides.
