Bandra Worli Sea Link - Will it work?

By Ritika at 30 June, 2009, 11:31 am

The Worli Sea Link is finally up and ready to go. Though its five years late than its original estimated time but as the old adage goes, ‘Better late than never’. The Link is meant for reducing the time taken for a 10 km distance from 50-90mins to around 8 mins. The bridge which is rightfully celebrated as an engineering marvel did not have an easy race to the finish line. It was bogged down by environmental issues by fishermen and residents, the litigations resulting thereafter, the great Indian bureaucracy and finally the recession that dried up funding resources. I must admit that I had my doubts if the link would ever be completed. I am happy to be proved wrong but I am still skeptical about recovery of the investment which stands at Rs 1,600 crore ($325 million), more than 3 times the estimated cost of Rs 450 crore.

The Rs 50 one way toll isn’t much for the upper class residents of Worli and Bandra. I am sure they would have been ready to pay more if they are convinced that it will save 40 mins of their driving time. But the skeptics are doubtful if the link will really help save time in its current state because it may result in choking the Worli end of the link. Also, if the Peddar Road residents keep blocking the proposed flyover in the area, the Worli exit stretch will continue to be a bottleneck.

I am more concerned about the current decision to not ply BEST buses over the link because in any metro, the first step to decrease traffic congestion is to develop a strong public transport system. Mumbai, without any doubt, provides the best public transportation. but is seriously burdened by the ever increasing Mumbai population. The Mumbai Metro rail project may be a step in that direction but even its current estimated delivery date of July 2010 is two years behind schedule. I traveled for 4 years on the Jogeshwari Link Road and the construction which has almost lasted a decade has ended in giving me a back pain. The Mumbai Airports have also failed to meet the deadline.

Skywalks, revamping of major local stations, Metro projects, Road constructions are all steps in right direction, but if the speed of these projects continues to be sluggish, we will just end up building infrastructure for 2010 by 2015. So let’s give thumbs up to the Bandra – Worli Sea Link and hope the second phase and approach roads are completed as per schedule.

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Categories : Politics & Society