This is an archive article published on April 24, 2024
Linking Coastal Road and Sea Link: Launch of girder for ‘bow-string’ bridge from Friday
On Wednesday noon, the girder--which are prefabricated structures--set sail from the Nhava Jetty in Navi Mumbai to arrive at the launch site in Worli on a barrage anchored in the Arabian Sea.
Written by Nayonika Bose
Mumbai | Updated: April 24, 2024 09:12 PM IST
3 min read
Whatsapp
twitter
Facebook
Reddit
The girder was initially planned for launch between April 18-19. However, civic officials said that now the launch will take place around or after April 25-26. (File Photo)
Following a delay due to heatwave, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now locked its eyes on launching the girder of the ‘bow-string’ bridge, which will link the Coastal Road with Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BSWL) early on Friday.
On Wednesday noon, the girder–which are prefabricated structures–set sail from the Nhava Jetty in Navi Mumbai to arrive at the launch site in Worli on a barrage anchored in the Arabian Sea. After the arrival of the girders on Wednesday night, they will be kept 50 metres away from their final location.
According to senior officials, the launch of the girder, which involves the installation of arches on the piers, will commence early in the wee hours of Friday and will be completed in a day’s time. The operation will also take place in the waters as there is no adequate land strip available at the launch site.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official from the BMC said, “After we get favourable conditions for installation on the piers, we will start the launching of girders at 5 am, when the sea conditions will be more favourable for accomplishing the process. We are aiming to complete the installation work in a day’s time. However, the timeframe and the process can also depend on the tide variations.”
“The process is being undertaken in the early hours as this is when the temperatures of the sea and the land will match. The winds will be less during the early hours, ensuring less disturbance to the barge,” Pawan Padiyar, planning head of HCC, which is the executing agency for this project, told Express.
Initially scheduled for April 18-19, the entire process of launch had to be postponed by a week owing to the record-shattering heatwave that the city had been reeling under last week. Officials said the extreme weather event had led to an increase in dust in the air, alongside increased volatility of wind and tidal patterns.
Keeping an eye out for favourable weather conditions, the civic body has now charted plans to commence the launch work from Friday. Gearing up for the slated launch, senior officials said the process of mooring the barge, which entails anchoring of the barge into the seabed, will be undertaken on Thursday.
Story continues below this ad
With the completion of the launching operations, BMC officials said the work of laying asphalt roads will be taken up. “The main challenge of implementing this project is that the sea in Worli has shallow waters and the density of bedrock is so thin that during low tides, the rocks become visible,” an official said.
The launch of this girder will mark the completion of the first phase of the Rs 13,000-crore Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) connecting the BWSL with Marine Drive via a 10.58-km-long high-speed corridor. Currently, the coastal swath is only partially operative with the south-bound arm being open between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays.
Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.
Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T)
Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area.
Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:
Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft).
Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout).
Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks.
Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration.
Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More
3 min read
