The Bandra–Worli Sea Link (officially known as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link[1]) is a 5.6 km long, 8-lane wide cable-stayed bridge that links Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. It is the second longest sea bridge after Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, as well as the 5th longest bridge in India after Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Dibang River Bridge and Mahatma Gandhi Setu. It contains pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side.[9] It was planned as a part of the proposed Western Freeway that would link the Western Suburbs to Nariman Point in Mumbai's main business district, but is now planned to become part of the Coastal Road to Kandivali.[10]
Bandra-Worli Sea Link During Early Monsoon The 5.6 km (3.5 mi) bridge was commissioned by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), and built by the Hindustan Construction Company. The first four of the eight lanes of the bridge were opened to the public on 30 June 2009.[11] All eight lanes became operational on 24 March 2010.
The sea-link reduces travel time between Bandra and Worli during peak hours from 20 – 30 minutes to 10 minutes.[12] As of 2018, BWSL had an average daily traffic of around 32,312 vehicles.[13][14]
History
The Bandra–Worli Sea Link
Northern viaduct of BWSL in the foreground seen against the Worli skyline. View from Bandra Fort
Sunset View of Bandra Worli Sea Link from Dadar Chowpatty spanning over Mahim Bay Mahim Causeway was the only road connecting the western suburbs to Mumbai's central business district. This north-southwestern corridor became a bottleneck and was highly congested at peak hours. The Western Freeway project was proposed to span the entire western coastline of Mumbai to ease congestion. The Bandra–Worli Sea Link, a bridge over Mahim Bay, was proposed as the first phase of this freeway system, offering an alternative route to the Mahim Causeway.[15]
The Bridge connects the intersection of the Western Express Highway and Swami Vivekanand Road in Bandra to the Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road in Worli. From Worli Seaface, it connects to Mumbai's arterial Annie Besant Road.
Mumbai (Marathi: Mumbaī, pronounced [ˈmumbəi], ⓘ muum-BY), also known as Bombay (/bɒmˈbeɪj/ BOMB-BAY; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12.5 million (1.25 crore).[20] Mumbai is the centre of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the sixth-most populous metropolitan area in the world with a population of over 23 million (2.3 crore).[21] Mumbai lies on the Konkan coast on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. In 2008, Mumbai was named an alpha world city.[22][23] Mumbai has the highest number of billionaires out of any city in Asia.[a]
The seven islands that constitute Mumbai were earlier home to communities of Marathi language-speaking Koli people.
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